The Miami Heat made a promise to themselves after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in the 2024-25 season: no more wasted years. Determined to avoid the missteps of the past, they entered the current campaign laser-focused on a deep postseason run.
So far, the results speak for themselves. The Heat are off to a strong 14-8 start in the 2025-26 campaign. But even as things run smoothly in South Beach, center Bam Adebayo has stirred the pot with a revelation that sounds like a subtle shot at a former teammate, Jimmy Butler.
Did Bam Adebayo Criticize Jimmy Butler’s Impact on the Locker Room?
In a recent appearance on “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, Adebayo peeled back the curtain on Miami’s internal dynamics. While discussing the importance of team culture, he alluded to stretches when the Heat’s locker room wasn’t right, and he did so without mentioning any names.
Although Adebayo never directly said the name “Jimmy Butler,” the timing and context made it difficult not to connect the dots, especially given how turbulent Butler’s final season in Miami turned out to be.
“From a locker room standpoint, bro, being thankful we have a great locker room, in the past I’ve been part of bad locker rooms, and that affected everything on the court.”
“From that standpoint, man, we got a great locker room. We’ve got guys that we joke around. I’m an only child, so when I get to be around… I consider my teammates as brothers,” said Adebayo during the segment.
Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat locker room this season 👀
“Being thankful we have a great locker room, in the past I’ve been part of bad locker rooms and that affected everything on the court.”
(Via @OldManAndThree, h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)pic.twitter.com/nSKLODuFfP
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) December 5, 2025
This isn’t the first time Adebayo has seemed to distance himself from his former co-star. Earlier this year, Bam was asked how strange it was to see Butler in a Golden State Warriors jersey. In response, Adebayo gave a measured answer that was more professional than personal.
“It’s a business at the end of the day. And he has a Golden State Warriors jersey on. We have a Heat jersey on. I don’t take it personal. We’re out there to do our job anyways. So if you don’t want to speak, we don’t speak, and that’s fine. We’re going to get out here, we’re going to compete, win or lose the game, and we move on,” said Adebayo, per the Miami Herald.
On paper, Butler’s tenure in Miami was a success. After joining the team in 2019, he transformed the squad, leading Miami to two NBA Finals appearances and three Eastern Conference Finals over five-plus seasons. Despite the on-court achievements, the ending was ugly.
Last season, Butler’s relationship with the organization completely unraveled. The franchise suspended him three different times: once for seven games for conduct deemed harmful to the team, a second time for two games after he missed a team flight, and a final indefinite suspension. That last action was tied to what the team described as a repeated pattern of ignoring rules, harming group cohesion, and failing to fulfill his professional obligations.
The situation culminated in the Heat declining to give Butler a two-year, nine-figure extension he was eligible for in the summer. This decision signaled that the front office was no longer willing to build around him in the long term.
Statistically, Butler has delivered solid production for his new team, averaging 19.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and five assists to date. However, his contributions haven’t translated into elite results, as the Warriors are sitting at an even 11-12 record. While there have been no public reports of locker room turmoil in Golden State, many around the league will keep a close eye on how that dynamic evolves if the losses begin to pile up.
