Miami Heat Suspend Jimmy Butler for 7 Games Over 'Conduct'

Jimmy Butler has been suspended from the Miami Heat for seven games.

The team announced the news on social media following Butler’s recent comments about his feelings regarding his future with the team. “We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the Heat shared in a statement.

“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team,” the statement continues. “Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”

This decision comes just eight days after Heat president Pat Riley announced that Butler wouldn’t be traded. The situation must have changed considerably after Butler’s comments to the media after he scored just nine points in a Heat loss to the Pacers on Thursday (Jan. 2).

“I want to see me getting my joy back playing basketball,” said Butler. “Wherever that may be, we’ll find out here pretty soon. I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant, I want to hoop and I want to help this team win, and right now I’m not doing it.”

He was then asked if he thinks he can get his joy back on the court while playing with the Heat, to which Butler responded, “Probably not.”

ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania recently reported that an issue that potentially led to Butler’s choice to request being traded was that team officials implied that he wasn’t playing his hardest when the Heat beat the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. That was his first game in 13 days after being away due to an illness. He scored just nine points in 25 minutes.

Butler’s suspension is going to cost him dearly. He’ll reportedly miss $346,543 for each game that he misses, for a total of $2.35 million. Per ESPN, The National Basketball Players Association will file a grievance to dispute the suspension, a lengthy process that probably won't affect the suspension.

Late last year, Charania reported that Butler wanted to be traded by the Miami Heat ahead of the February trade deadline. Although he hadn’t made a formal trade request to the Heat, he was reportedly ready to move on. In response to Charania's allegations, Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, said that the reporter’s information was “complete and utter made-up bullshit” and that “all this is fabricated.”