The bitter battle between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat continues, and there seems to be no end in sight.
Butler still wishes to leave the team, but the front office isn’t moving quickly to make that happen, so he may be back on the court in a matter of days.
Butler is reportedly unhappy with team president Pat Riley and thinks he could be doing more to help the Heat win.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, per NBACentral, Frank Isola pushed back against Butler’s belief, saying:
“You think Pat Riley’s not doing enough to win? Jimmy Butler, the stronger case could be made that you’re not doing enough to win…It’s tough to always win when you’re a lower seed.”
“You think Pat Riley’s not doing enough to win? Jimmy Butler, the stronger case could be made that you’re not doing enough to win…It’s tough to always win when you’re a lower seed” 😬
– @TheFrankIsola
(Via @SiriusXMNBA ) pic.twitter.com/htScZHoot6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 15, 2025
Butler’s complaint against his team is one that many disgruntled players make: he feels the organization isn’t working hard enough to give the team the proper assets to win.
But what can the Heat do better?
Could they give Butler a stronger supporting cast?
That is easier said than done, especially in the current NBA environment and with trade rules and taxes.
Plus, they would have to gut the roster and give away many supporting stars, which could hurt the Heat even more.
Some people feel Butler should not complain and instead focus on doing everything in his power to improve the Heat’s chances.
He shouldn’t be casting blame but should be improving his skills and leading his teammates.
Riley has accomplished many historic things during his lengthy NBA career but Butler feels he isn’t doing a good job right now.
This again proves that the relationship between these two has soured and likely cannot be repaired.
NEXT: Details Emerge About Why Jimmy Butler Is Fed Up With The Heat
