Miami Heat Suspend Jimmy Butler Indefinitely After Practice Walkout

Miami Heat suspend Jimmy Butler indefinitely without pay after he walked out of practice, marking his third suspension this month amid trade rumors.

The Miami Heat have indefinitely suspended Jimmy Butler, effective immediately, after the 35-year-old forward walked out of a practice session on Monday. According to reports, Butler was upset when informed that he would be coming off the bench for the team. The Heat announced the suspension in a statement posted on X, stating, “The Miami Heat are suspending Jimmy Butler without pay effective immediately for an indefinite period to last no fewer than five games.”

This is the third time this month that the Heat have suspended Butler. He had previously been suspended for two games for missing a team flight and for seven games for “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team.” Butler, in his 15th NBA season, has been instrumental in leading the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023, although they lost on both occasions. However, Butler has expressed his desire to be traded, and the Heat have indicated that they are willing to listen to offers from other teams for the six-time All-Star.

The minimum five-game suspension announced on Monday will run through the NBA's mid-season trade deadline on February 6th. The Miami Herald reported that the Heat will reassess the suspension after the deadline if Butler remains on their roster. Tyler Herro, the Heat's star guard, acknowledged that the team has grown accustomed to dealing with the uncertainty surrounding Butler. “It kind of feels normal now at this point,” Herro said. “It's kind of just what it is. Nothing is guaranteed, so we just got to be ready to roll with whatever cards we're dealt with tonight.”

Jimmy Butler has been suspended indefinitely by the Heat, per @ShamsCharania

Butler walked out of the team's shootaround this morning after the Heat were planning to not start him moving forward pic.twitter.com/OB1eR3Rc1D

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 27, 2025

The Heat are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, with their playoff chances hanging in the balance. As the team navigates the challenges posed by Butler's suspension, they will need to rely on players like Herro to step up and lead the team. With the trade deadline looming, the Heat's front office will be closely watching the situation unfold, weighing their options and considering what's best for the team's future.