Seven weeks later, Jimmy Butler’s return to Miami is met with much fanfare. The Get-in prices for the game against the Warriors are more expensive than the Heat’s next five games combined, as per Tick Pick. It’s not just the fans that are watching; even the TNT crew, including Shaquille O’Neal, are on broadcasting duty. If the game lacked any more heat, then Butler made sure with his pre-game comments that the water was not under the bridge.
“I have nothing to say to Pat, and Pat better have nothing to say to me.” Reporter Taylor Rooks quoted Jimmy Butler on his thoughts ahead of his return to Miami. Responding to this quote, Shaq was asked his thoughts and if he felt the same when the Heat President traded him away. The Lakers legend said, “of course,” implying any player would feel the same. “But you know it was done the way it was done, so of course, emotions are going to be high. So you know you have to understand how he feels.”
Before siding with Butler’s feeling on his return game, the 4x NBA champion explained once again about the Pat Riley ‘Heat Culture’. “One thing I know from personal experience is the Pat Riley heat culture way or else there’s nothing wrong with that you know.” Later, Shaquille O’Neal made a bold prediction favoring the latest Bay Area recruit.
“But you know when you say to a guy like Jimmy with all he’s done, with all the success he’s had here, ‘We’re not going to give you extension.’ Of course, you know emotions start to fly, and Jimmy started to act a different way…” The Big Aristotle said on NBA on TNT, “But knowing Jimmy, knowing the dog and Jimmy, I’m think he’s going to go for 40 tonight.”
At Halftime, the return is not what the 35-year-old expected. The scoreline favors Heat 57-40 with Butler playing 15 minutes in total, but way off on Shaquille O’Neal’s prediction. Just 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and a forgetful shooting of 1/6.
This is a developing story…
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