Butler leaves Miami after a historic run of success — and a difficult season of suspensions and trade speculation. Photo: Nic Antaya/Getty Images
He’s gone. After an exhilarating five-year run with the Heat, Jimmy Butler is leaving Miami in a messy divorce, as the team traded him to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
Why it matters: Butler was the king of Miami sports during his time here, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals — the team’s first since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade played together.
- Off the court, he immersed himself in the Miami culture, playing dominos in Little Havana and opening a Big Face Coffee shop in the Design District.
- He was a regular at local sporting events, like the Miami Grand Prix, where he sold coffee and drove around Hard Rock Stadium with a Formula 1 driver.
Catch up quick: The Jimmy Butler experience turned into a rollercoaster ride this season, as contract negotiations and ultimately a trade demand cast a dark cloud over the team.
The latest: On the eve of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, the Heat traded the 35-year-old superstar to Golden State for 29-year-old forward Andrew Wiggins; 39-year-old former Heat forward P.J. Tucker, and a first-round pick, ESPN reported.
- Butler agreed to sign a new two-year, $121-million extension with the Warriors through 2026-27.
- As part of the five-team trade, the Heat traded guard Josh Richardson to Detroit.
Stunning stat: Butler, who famously morphed into Playoff Jimmy every offseason, holds the Heat franchise record for most points in a playoff game, scoring 56 against Milwaukee in 2023 and yelling “This is my s—!” after a game-sealing three-pointer.
- It was the fourth-most points scored in a single game in NBA playoff history.
Yes, but: Butler’s chapter in Miami — like some of the other stops along his NBA career — may be remembered less for its on-the-court success and more for how it flamed out.
