Jimmy Butler’s Return to Miami: Just Another Game?
ATLANTA — The buzz around Jimmy Butler and his return to Miami is palpable, but if you ask Butler, it’s just “another game.” The Golden State Warriors’ star is set to face his former team, the Miami Heat, on Tuesday, and he’s downplaying the hype surrounding the matchup.
Butler’s comments come on the heels of a disappointing 124-115 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, a game in which the Warriors were without their injured star Stephen Curry due to a pelvic contusion. Despite the loss, Butler put up impressive numbers, finishing with 25 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds.
Reflecting on his upcoming return to Miami, Butler said, “Yeah, I was traded from there, yada, yada, yada. Yeah, it didn’t end the way that people wanted to, yada yada yada. But that’s so far behind me now. I don’t even think about it. I don’t pay attention to nothing except for the trajectory of this squad.”
Since Butler’s debut with the Warriors on February 8, the team has been on a roll, boasting a 16-4 record. Meanwhile, the Heat have been struggling, currently on a 10-game losing streak, their worst since 2008. Since the Butler trade became official on February 7, Miami has gone 4-17 and has been outscored by 125 points in the fourth quarter, the worst in the NBA since February 6, according to ESPN Research.
Trade Fallout: Wiggins and Anderson’s Return
This game will also mark the first time Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson, who were sent to Miami in the five-team trade involving Butler, will face their former team. Warriors power forward Draymond Green acknowledged the significance of the game for both sides, saying, “We got Jimmy over here, I know this is a big game for him. They got Wiggs over there. I know it’s a huge game for him. We want to win for Jimmy, they’re going to want to win for Wiggs. We got to come out ready to play.”
Butler, who was instrumental in helping the Heat reach two NBA Finals during his five-and-a-half seasons with the team, expressed gratitude for the Miami fans but remains focused on his current role with the Warriors. “Not really, don’t make no difference,” Butler said when asked about the potential reaction from Miami fans. “I’m a member of the Golden State Warriors. I love that fan base. They showed me a lot of love while I was there. But I’m there to win now. I’m on the opposing team.”
Reflecting on Miami Tenure
When asked to characterize his time in Miami, Butler was candid about the team’s shortcomings. “We were alright,” he said. “We didn’t win nothing like we were supposed to. So I don’t know. We made some cool runs. We had some fun. I think that’s all we did.”
As for Curry, he is expected to be reevaluated on Monday. Coach Steve Kerr is hopeful that Curry will rejoin the team at some point during their six-game road trip. However, Butler is more concerned with finding a way to win in Miami without Curry. “Another game for me, another game that we’re expected to win for sure,” Butler said, expressing his disappointment over the loss to the Hawks. “So we got to figure it out very quickly [without Curry].”
- Warriors’ record since Butler’s debut: 16-4
- Heat’s record since Butler trade: 4-17
- Miami’s fourth-quarter point deficit since February 6: 125 points
As the Warriors prepare to face the Heat, all eyes will be on Butler and how he handles the pressure of returning to Miami. Will it truly be just “another game,” or will the emotions of facing his former team come into play? Only time will tell.
Originally Written by: Ohm Youngmisuk
