“In the NBA” fueled debate over the drama of Heat star Jimmy Butler’s latest suspension

Jimmy Butler’s sixth season with the Miami Heat it has been turbulent.

The recent team suspended the six-time All-Star for the second time in three weeks — a decision that further fueled the belief that Butler has already played his final game for the franchise.

Butler drew the latest suspension for what the team in a statement on Wednesday called a “continued pattern of disregard for team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team,” including missing the flight of Heat to Milwaukee earlier in the day. The Heat were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday, before traveling to New York for a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 25.

During Thursday’s edition of TNT’s long-running “Inside the NBA,” Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith discussed the drama surrounding Butler.

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Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) leaves the court after the game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. (Rick Osentoski-Images)

O’Neal argued that it’s “human nature” for Butler to want to land with another team when his contract situation is taken into consideration.

“I just think in this situation, it’s more about human nature,” O’Neal said. “I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I’ve been in this situation many times. Everything I’ve done for you, and you don’t want to give me what I want, so human nature kicks in. . . . The part that I hate this basketball business, it always has to be somebody’s fault.”

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Butler, 34, has one year remaining on his deal and has a $52 million player option for the 2025-26 season. He is eligible for a two-year, $113 million extension. However, it doesn’t appear the Heat have extended such an offer to Butler, in large part because he has missed about 25 percent of the team’s games since arriving in 2019.

However, Johnson, Barkley and Smith have expressed views that oppose O’Neal’s thoughts.

The TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax airs live before the game on October 24, 2023, at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)

“You can’t just not show up for work,” Barkley replied.

“You took the $50 (million) for this year and next year,” Smith added.

While Johnson usually acts as a referee when the trio of NBA players engage in heated exchanges on the show, he challenged O’Neal after the four-time NBA player doubled down on his position.

“Don’t you feel a responsibility when you are under contract this season to play this season?” Johnson asked.

Jimmy Butler, #22 of the Miami Heat, prepares to shoot a free throw against the Washington Wizards on February 2, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC (Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images)

Barkley also suggested that Butler owed it to the fans and his teammates to put their feelings on the contract situation and do their part to help the Heat win games.

“You can get mad at the Miami Heat organization, but Miami fans and those guys in that locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”

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Butler was banned for seven games earlier this month, costing him about $2.4 million in salary.

Money may not be the only factor contributing to Butler’s unhappiness. Butler has made it no secret that he isn’t happy with what he says is his new role in the Heat offense. He didn’t participate in his usual way during the introduction of the Heat starters in a recent game, and sat by himself at times during timeouts while not engaged in the huddle.

Butler has told the Heat in recent weeks that he wants a trade, according to multiple reports. The request was not made publicly, because NBA rules do not allow players to do so. The NBA trade deadline is February 6th.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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