By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Another suspension for Jimmy Butler amid trade rumors.
The Miami Heat updated the status of the 35-year-old forward on Wednesday.
Per the press release: “We have suspended Jimmy Butler for two games for continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team, including missing today’s team flight to Milwaukee.”
Returning to the lineup after serving a seven-game suspension earlier in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, Butler was visibly lacking passion and focus on the court, leading to him missing the team flight ahead of the meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks in Fiserv Forum on Thursday.
His behavior has been affecting the team, as officially described by the Heat. With the deadline for players to be traded and remain eligible to compete in the 2025 NBA Playoffs on February 6 approaching, the Houston native has been vocal about wanting a move away from Miami. He has been indeed been linked with other teams.
Besides the upcoming game against the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Butler will also miss the clash with the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center on the next edition of NBA Saturdays. Following the two-game road trip, the team coached by Erik Spoelstra welcomes the fellow Florida franchise, Orlando Magic in Kaseya Center on Monday.
This season, Butler averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest, but was reduced to 13.0 points per game after resurfacing from the previous suspension.
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