Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler returns to action after 7-game suspension
MIAMI - Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler made his return Friday night against the Denver Nuggets after a seven-game suspension.
A couple of hours before the game, Butler's agent tweeted, "He's back."
Butler, 35, had been suspended for "detrimental conduct," which cost him approximately $2.36 million in lost salary.
Right before the game, Butler got introduced at the Kaseya Center for the first time in two weeks, but not everyone seemed thrilled.
It was a mixed reaction — some cheers and definitely some boos, the latter of which is unusual for the home team to be hearing during pregame introductions.
"In terms of silly questions about, like, 'What's the temperature of the room?' or 'How everybody's feeling?,' that just sounds so dramatic," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We're professionals. We're fine. Ready for tonight's game. That's the only thing that matters."
Despite becoming eligible for a two-year, $113 million contract extension last summer, the Heat did not offer the deal, leading to questions about Butler's long-term status with the franchise.
"Look, we work in a league of complexity," Spoelstra said before Friday's game. "We're in an unusual place right now, but really, all it is, is complex. And we fully plan on operating within this complexity. So, it's my job to prepare this team and get them ready to play at a high level. And that's what I'm doing. That's what the plan is."
The six-time NBA All-Star's return comes at a pivotal moment for the Heat (20-19), who are aiming to recover from a loss to the L.A. Lakers on Wednesday.
Butler's presence is expected to provide a significant boost as they take on the 2023 NBA champion Nuggets (24-16) at the Kaseya Center.
While the Heat have not commented on Butler's suspension or future, his decision to play signals stability for a team seeking to contend in the Eastern Conference.
