When it comes to the national media, no one is more attuned to the Miami Heat than Dan Le Batard. His insights on the ongoing situation with Jimmy Butler suggest that the Heat and team president Pat Riley have reached an irreversible point.
Miami’s drawn-out saga with its star swingman has spanned nearly two months, starting with Shams Charania’s initial report in early December, indicating the Heat were open to trading Butler. Since then, the six-time All-Star has seemingly publicly requested a trade, served a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team, and faced further suspension after reportedly missing a team fight. On Monday, the Heat suspended Butler again—his third suspension in less than a month—after he reportedly walked out of practice. Le Batard indicates that Miami’s swift decisions regarding suspensions are not coincidental, highlighting an unprecedented power struggle involving Riley.
“I’m led to assume the Heat will suspend him if he hiccups wrong,” Le Batard stated on Tuesday’s episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. “The rules have changed to ‘whatever we need to do to suspend him’—he’s now practicing with guys who don’t want to be practicing with him. There’s a cultish aspect to it; it’s very much ‘us against everybody.’” He further notes, “You’re now publicly embarrassing a guy who has had Godfather power in this sport—earned—for 50 years. I can’t imagine how cruel and petty this is, as he has the strength of everyone behind him, Stugotz. The entire system is against Jimmy Butler now.”
“I’m led to assume the Heat will suspend him if he hiccups wrong. The rules have all changed now…You’re now embarrassing in public a guy who has had Godfather power in this sport – earned – for 50 years. I can’t imagine how cruel and petty he’s doing this as he’s got the… pic.twitter.com/3Ludz3Ngo6
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 28, 2025
While Le Batard usually holds Riley in high regard, he seems to recognize the contributions from both sides in this increasingly acrimonious separation. Meanwhile, guest co-host and Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote has placed most of the blame on Butler, labeling the 35-year-old a “quitter” who has tarnished his legacy. He lamented, “He’s quit on everybody. He’s quit on his team, on his teammates, on the fans, on the city of Miami, on the integrity of the NBA.”
“He’s quit on everybody. He’s quit on his team, on his teammates, on the fans, on the city of Miami, on the integrity of the NBA.” @gregcote has had enough with “quitter” Jimmy Butler who has “ruined his legacy” with his recent actions.
WATCH: https://t.co/lqe1KqWyBL pic.twitter.com/yC9tGbaJ4n
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 28, 2025
To illustrate Le Batard’s point, no team in the NBA has capitalized on the league’s “player empowerment era” quite like the Heat, notably during the formation of the LeBron James/Dwyane Wade/Chris Bosh “Big Three” in 2010. In stark contrast, Butler is not new to turbulent separations, having orchestrated his exit from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018. What unfolds when a player and a team, both accustomed to getting their way, clash? We are witnessing it unfold now, and Le Batard’s commentary highlights just how messy it has become.
