Some decisions haunt you forever. Others set you free. Do you remember Jimmy Butler’s time in Philly was short, but unforgettable? On November 12, 2018, the Sixers landed him in a trade with Minnesota, sending away Jerryd Bayless and others. It was a season of change, a test of loyalty. But as he left for Miami, he heard something from Philly’s higher-ups—words that stuck with him. Years later, that same feeling pushed him out of Florida. Sending him to the Bay Area.
The Sixers had a choice. And, they bet on Tobias Harris and Al Horford, letting Jimmy Butler walk. Miami welcomed him with open arms in 2019, sealing a sign-and-trade. In return, Philly got Josh Richardson. Then came the fallout. Butler led the Heat to two Finals. While the Sixers crumbled, swept out of the first round. Now, in a candid conversation with The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Mr. Playoffs spoke of his past, the Miami Heat, and his future with the Warriors.
Jimmy Butler doesn’t do well with control. He thrives on freedom, on being himself. But in Philly, he heard whispers—leadership would’ve kept him “if they could control him.” That stung. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about trust. Meanwhile, the same pattern followed in Miami. The need to fit into a system, to be anything other than who he is, pushed him away again. Some teams want stars. Others want soldiers. Butler? No one was ever meant to tame him.
I sat down with Jimmy Butler ahead of his return game in Miami on Tuesday night. He gave his blunt perspective on a number of topics, including his Heat past and Warriors future.https://t.co/kNPubsceef
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 24, 2025
“That’s too hard to do,” Butler said of franchises’ bosses and their controlling nature. “You can’t control grown men in this line of work. You can try, but I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to show up. I’m going to compete and I’m going to help us win.” This is a direct hit not just at Philly but at Pat Riley as well. Miami suspended the 35-year-old superstar from participating in games during his final stretch with them. They said his statements were “detrimental” to the team.
Simply put, Riley wanted to control Butler and his actions, as Jimmy hints at it quite loudly yet subtly. Moreover, Jimmy isn’t interested in rewriting the past. He knows how the game works—someone has to be the villain. If Philly or Miami wants to paint him that way, so be it. “I’ll take being a bad guy. Makes no difference.”
Most importantly, Butler’s moved on, locked in with the Warriors. They respect him. They want him. And that’s all that matters. “I’m here now. I’m competing at a high level and I’m helping the Golden State Warriors win.” If that makes him the bad guy elsewhere, he’s fine with it. “Hell, I’m cool with being a bad guy over there.”
Jimmy Butler embraces the ‘villain role’, but it’s always been about winning
They can call him the bad guy, and they can twist the story. However, Jimmy Butler isn’t here for drama—he’s here to win. That’s what has always mattered. Despite the noise, the narratives, and the grudges, his mindset remains unchanged. “I got a job to do.” People may hype certain matchups like the one about to unfold on Tuesday as Butler will go back to the Kaseya Center to face the Miami Heat in his Golden State Warriors jersey. But in reality, every game holds the same weight for him. Moreover, the mission stays the same.
Meanwhile, some expect him to chase numbers, to put on a show just to prove a point. Yet, Butler quickly shuts that down. “And it’s not going to be Jimmy Butler trying to score 70. That’s not it.” He plays for something bigger. Ultimately, it’s not about revenge; it’s about results. “Like I tell y’all all the time, it’s all about winning.” That’s why he left Philly. That’s why Miami, despite Pat Riley’s vision, wasn’t the end. Now, in Golden State, Butler isn’t looking back. Winning has always been the only goal. Winning has always been in his DNA.
Mr. Playoffs isn’t chasing approval. He never has. Philly tried to control him. Miami did too. Now, in Golden State, he finally plays on his own terms. No more battles off the court—just the fight to win. Because at the end of the day, that’s all he’s ever wanted.
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