Jimmy Butler has been indefinitely suspended by the Miami Heat following repeated violations of team rules and conduct detrimental to the team. The six-time NBA All-Star, 35, had already faced two suspensions earlier this month, missing nine games due to disciplinary issues.
The latest incident involved Butler walking out of a team practice on Friday, prompting the team to announce his suspension without pay for at least five games.
The Heat released a statement citing Butler's "continued pattern of disregard of team rules" and intentional withholding of services as reasons for the action. Shortly after the announcement, Butler shared a clip from the sitcom Martin on Instagram, humorously referencing being unemployed.
This marks the second suspension in three weeks for Butler, who was initially penalized in early January for similar conduct issues. Following his first suspension, the Heat expressed openness to trade offers for the forward.
After returning to play on January 17, Butler featured in two matches but was suspended again after missing a team flight. He returned to action last week, playing 27 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers, only to face this latest disciplinary action. The Heat were scheduled to face the Orlando Magic on Monday evening, though Butler’s absence remains a significant headline for the team.
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