Before Jimmy Butler III was the Golden State Warriors’ newest star, he was the heart of the Miami Heat. He led them to the NBA Finals twice, dragged them through grueling playoff battles, and gave the franchise its identity. But when contract talks collapsed, so did his relationship with the team.
The result? A messy, public breakup that ended with Butler being traded to Golden State. Now, he’s back in Miami for the first time since that dramatic exit following the Warriors six-game road trip, and he has a message for the Heat fans and their head coach who has turned on him.
Jimmy Butler III Addresses Fallout with the Heat
For five seasons, Butler was the face of the Miami Heat. He led them to three Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals appearances, and was the driving force behind their gritty, hard-nosed identity. But his time in Miami ended in controversy, with contract disputes, suspensions, and a growing rift with the front office.
Now, ahead of his return to Kaseya Center for the first time after the trade, Butler is making one thing clear—he wasn’t the only one responsible for how things fell apart.
“I wonder if they look at the Heat the same way,” Butler said Monday when asked about the messy breakup. “It ain’t like I was the one who was doing everything. It’s got to be 50-50, maybe 51-49. 49 towards them, 51 towards me. But there’s no way that I was the cause of all of this.”
Asked about Heat fans who grew to disdain him, Butler said: “I wonder if they look at the Heat the same way. It ain’t like I was the one who was doing everything." https://t.co/p7rquEfHzb
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) March 24, 2025
Despite the bitter ending, the Heat still plans to honor Butler before tip-off against the Warriors with a tribute video—a gesture usually reserved for franchise legends. Butler qualifies, having been a two-time All-Star in Miami, but his reaction was cold per Miami Herald
“Yeah, I’ll watch. If they have one, if they don’t. It makes no difference. It really doesn’t.”
Butler’s Trade Shook the League
Butler’s departure wasn’t just another trade—it was a power shift.
The Heat went from a perennial contender to uncertainty. Meanwhile, Golden State, struggling with a 25-26 record at the time, took a gamble by trading Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick for Butler.
Since then, the Warriors have gone 16-4, the second-best record in the league over that span. Butler has seamlessly fit in, becoming the team’s primary isolation scorer and elevating them to sixth in the Western Conference at 41-30.
But in Miami, the debate over Butler’s exit rages on. Fans are split, with many placing blame on Pat Riley and the front office.
One fan tweeted: “Dumb question, many more fans who disliked the Heat’s approach opposed to Butler’s.”
Dumb question, many more fans who disliked the Heat’s approach opposed to butlers.
— 🔥 (@Jorrdan26) March 24, 2025
Another added: “Yes Jimmy, we blame Pat too. Except Pat isn’t still being a bitch about it. The fan base loves you, dude @JimmyButler.”
Yes Jimmy, we blame Pat too. Except Pat isn’t still being a bitch about it. The fan base loves you dude @JimmyButler
— Dowderzz (@WhosYoDowdy) March 25, 2025
Butler may have moved on, but Tuesday night will be a reminder of what could have been. And no tribute video can change that. For Heat fans, Butler’s words only add fuel to the debate. Some still see him as the relentless competitor who carried Miami to success.
Either way, his return to Miami won’t be just another game—it will be a reckoning. The Warriors vs. Heat will tip off at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 25.