Jimmy Butler again suspended by Miami Heat over 'disregard of team rules'

The Miami Heat have suspended star forward Jimmy Butler for two games due to a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team," the team announced Thursday on X (formerly Twitter).

Butler was reportedly absent for the team’s flight to Milwaukee for Thursday’s matchup against the Bucks. Although Butler had intended to join the team on Wednesday evening, the Heat decided to suspend him from their upcoming two-game road trip, which also includes a Saturday game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Butler last featured for Heat against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

This marks Butler’s second suspension in January, following a seven-game ban earlier this month for "multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team." Butler had returned to the lineup after that suspension, appearing in the Heat's last three games.

If he remains with the team, Butler would be eligible to return for the Heat’s game against the Orlando Magic on January 27.

The suspension is part of an ongoing saga regarding Butler’s future with the Heat. Rumours about Butler wanting a trade began circulating in December, and in response, Heat president Pat Riley declared on December 26 that the team had no intention of trading him.

In early January, Butler publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with being part of the Heat organisation. The team’s announcement of his initial suspension stated that through both his actions and comments, Butler had shown he no longer wanted to be part of the team.

Social media users also had their say on the issue, with many on X (formerly Twitter) criticising Butler's actions.

With Butler’s future in Miami uncertain, the Heat will now face a crucial period in determining his place within the franchise moving forward.