After Miami Heat president Pat Riley ripped All-Star forward Jimmy Butler for taunting the team’s playoff opponents despite not suiting up all postseason, Butler’s agent fired back at Riley with a fact-based retort.
Jimmy Butler’s Agent Fires Back at Pat Riley
“Taking issue in games in which he plays is just not reality,” Thread Sports Management’s Bernie Lee tells South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman.
“This past season, we had a conversation at the start of the year, just with some of the changes, rules changes in the NBA, the priority that was in place to be able to participate in every game he was physically able to participate for, and I can tell you that he lived up that commitment.”
Butler played 60 games in 2023-24, making it the fourth time in five seasons that he’s played 50 or fewer games. He’s missed at least 15 games every season since signing.
Of the 2023-24 season in particular, Lee says, “if there was a game that was on the schedule that Jimmy was healthy enough to participate in, he did that.”
“He played in a number of back-to-backs and it was the utmost priority to him to do everything he can to be available.”
However, Lee didn’t stop there, going even further to defend his client.
“When you dive into even more, Jimmy played his highest minutes per game since Minnesota. He played over 2,000, the third year in a row that he’s done that. He was third on the team in total minutes played.
If you look at Jimmy’s entire career, I’m not really sure where this narrative is coming from, in terms of constantly dissecting his availability. But if you look at his five years in Miami, the Miami Heat have participated in 61 playoff games, not including these past playoffs that he was injured for. Of those 61, Jimmy has only missed three because of injury. In every single playoff series since he’s been in Miami, he’s led the team in both minutes per game and total minutes.”
Not When It Matters Most
To Lee’s last point, Butler has had greater availability in the playoffs, usually toughing it out due to the seriousness of the situation.
However, over the last three postseasons, Butler’s injuries have been particularly untimely. He sustained a knee injury during the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, which the Boston Celtics won in seven games. In the first game of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Butler sprained his ankle. Though Miami made it all the way to the 2023 NBA Finals, it was often in spite of Butler, who shot 43 percent or below in every series after the First Round. For reference, he shot 59.7 percent from the field in the First Round. This past season, Butler sustained a MCL injury during the Play-In Tournament, then missed the entire First Round. The Heat lost the series in five games.
So when Lee asks why Butler’s availability is “constantly dissected,” it’s because his client can’t stay off the injury report.
There’s no doubt that Butler is among the most competitive players in the NBA. Because of his mental makeup, people haven’t accused Butler of purposely missing games. However, on a purely objective level, there’s reason to question his ultimate value. Especially when discussing contract extensions for player that will be 35 years old heading into next season.
Butler’s the team’s leader and their best perimeter player. He’s one of the most well-rounded players in the league. But if he’s not available or healthy when it matters most, what does that amount to?
