The Jimmy Butler saga was one of the more peculiar developments of the 2024-25 NBA season. After going through some euphoric highs with the Miami Heat, which included two trips to the NBA Finals, their divorce came rather shockingly, and it played out in an unexpectedly ugly fashion.
The resolution came in the form of a move to the Golden State Warriors, where he has fit in like a glove. However, as evidenced by their matchups since then, the bad blood between the player and the organization still very much exists. And it might have even spread to the rest of the locker room as well.
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Jimmy Butler Remains Cold to His Former Teammates
A rough start to the season for the Warriors, who currently sit at 9-8, has been exacerbated by Stephen Curry’s extended absence due to illness. While the rest of the roster has tried to keep them afloat, it’s been to no avail.
Butler, in particular, has long been a playoff performer of extraordinary caliber, while his regular-season numbers continue to look underwhelming. This year has been no different, as he’s averaging 20.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
However, facing Miami on the second night of a back-to-back, he was ruled out with a back injury, as the team lost both games. Even as the Heat won 110-96, fans caught a curious scene unfolding after the game.
Like he had the last time the two teams faced off, Butler refused to shake hands with any of his former teammates. It could have been plain disappointment at his club losing the matchup.
Jimmy Butler leaving court right after the buzzer as Heat beat under-manned Warriors, 110-96. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/4EWc3UKZ6v
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) November 20, 2025
However, given the circumstances of his departure from Miami, it is difficult not to delve deeper into the matter. Others, too, caught on to his actions, as a Heat fan wrote on X, “Steph, Draymond, and the rest of the Warriors meet and give respect to the HEAT players after the game. Jimmy Butler once again heads straight back to the locker room. Your teammates had nothing to do with your contract situation @JimmyButler.”
A similar situation unfolded the last time these two teams met. The Heat won that encounter as well, 112-86, even with Butler suiting up for the Warriors. However, he chose to head back to the locker room rather than greet his teammates.
For a franchise that needed an anchor after the departure of LeBron James and the retirement of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he took the mantle and upheld it better than anyone could have anticipated.
Despite underwhelming rosters, he was key to making them a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference, as they made two Finals and three Conference Finals appearances.