The Miami Heat suspended disgruntled forward Jimmy Butler indefinitely after he walked out of a team shootaround Monday.
It marks the third time the Heat have suspended Butler this month, starting with a seven-game ban for conduct detrimental to the team and another two-game disciplinary move for missing a team flight to Milwaukee last week.
The latest suspension, which will last a minimum of five games, comes after Butler reportedly was told that he would be playing in a reserve role moving forward. The team is planning to keep Haywood Highsmith in a starting role.
Miami is set to host to the Orlando Magic on Monday.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra addressed the Butler situation before the team faced the Bucks on Thursday.
“The point that I made to our team is get used to it,” Spoelstra said. “Get over it. This is the NBA life; this is the life we chose. If you think it’s going to be predictable, you’re really mistaken.”
The reasoning given for Butler’s first suspension was that, “through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.”
The Heat said at the time they would begin listening to offers for the disgruntled star forward. The National Basketball Players Association said it would appeal Butler’s seven-game ban, though he wound up serving the entire suspension.
Butler returned Jan. 17 and played in three Heat home games before missing the flight to Milwaukee. Including time missed for an illness at the end of December, Butler has not played in any of Miami’s last 12 road games.
“It takes a mental fortitude and commitment in terms of the task at hand,” Spoelstra said Thursday. “Nothing changes in terms of the task at hand. … We have enough continuity, we know what our identity is at this point. You can make any excuse you want to, but we get to do what we love.
“We’ve had this happen all season long, so we know the exercise and what we need to do to make those adjustments.”
Tyler Herro told reporters last week there was “not much to talk about” with the latest Butler development.
“It’s probably not the easiest to work with someone who’s going to be in and out in any job,” Herro said. “We love Jimmy; we’d love for him to be here. I love Jimmy.”
On the season, Butler has averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 25 games. Over 14 NBA seasons, the six-time All-Star has averaged 18.3 points with 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 839 games (734 starts).
–Field Level Media
