Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler missed Thursday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks as he served the first contest of his two-game suspension. Butler was slapped with another suspension by the team after he missed a flight to Milwaukee. Butler appears to be done with the Heat, as he’s already reportedly demanded a trade, but so far, he remains with the Heat.
Butler’s situation with the Heat has everyone talking about it. During Thursday’s showing of “Inside the NBA,” Shaquille O’Neal and the rest of the crew got into it while discussing the drama down in South Beach. Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith believe that Butler, regardless of how he feels about Miami, needs to show up to work because he signed a contract to play for the team. Shaq, however, was not on the same page.
“All I’ve done for you guys, and you don’t want to give me an extension?” the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar big man said. “So now human nature kicks in. You don’t want me, I don’t want you.”
Inside the NBA crew breakdown the Jimmy Butler situation
Shaq: “All I’ve done for you guys, and you don’t want to give me an extension? So now human nature kicks in. You don’t want me, I don’t want you.”
Chuck: “You still have to be professional.”pic.twitter.com/pZ2MRVEWnv
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 24, 2025
Fans can’t believe what Shaq said about the Jimmy Butler-Miami Heat drama
The discussion left fans buzzing online, with many calling out Shaq for his take.
“Sorry Shaq, you are wrong. I love Jimmy, but he has taken this way too far. It’s not fair for the team to be acting like this.”
Sorry Shaq, you are wrong. I love Jimmy, but he has taken this way too far. It’s not fair for the team to be acting like this.
— Steph D (@steph476) January 24, 2025
“Shaq is just doing this for ratings and conversation. No way anyone could side with a guy that is making 50 million and doing nothing but crying. Poor Jimmy.”
Shaq is just doing this for ratings and conversation. No way anyone could side with a guy that is making 50 million and doing nothing but crying. Poor Jimmy.
— Mike Muehlenfeld (@Yankeecarguy) January 24, 2025
“Love Shaquille but wrong in this. Buttler has done this everywhere he has played.”
Love Shaquille but wrong in this. Buttler has done this everywhere he has played.
— frankthetank (@fvaccaro74) January 24, 2025
“Shaq’s comments are the reason why the NBA ratings are the worst in decades. I signed a contract and I’m not going to play hard because you won’t extend me yikes.. great look for the NBA shaq”
Shaq's comments are the reason why the NBA ratings are the worst in decades. I signed a contract and I'm not going to play hard because you won't extend me yikes.. great look for the NBA shaq
— Robert Cain (@UCYIMD0NE) January 24, 2025
“Shaq will never admit he is wrong and makes himself look weaker arguing a dead point he does it all the time.”
Shaq will never admit he is wrong and makes himself look weaker arguing a dead point he does it all the time.
— sportsfan120577 (@sportsfan1205) January 24, 2025
Butler signed a three-year extension deal worth $146.4 million in 20121 with a player option worth $52.4 million in the 2024-25 NBA season. That option is widely viewed as a huge factor why it’s tough for other teams to trade for Butler. In any case, Butler’s saga in Miami will end. The only question is, how?
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