The Golden State Warriors suffered a crushing 86-113 defeat against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. The devastating loss at the Kaseya Center dropped their record to 41-31.
However, the spotlight was firmly on Jimmy Butler as he returned to Miami for the first time since his trade to the Warriors. Unfortunately, his return didn’t go as well as he hoped for.
Butler, who spent five and a half seasons with the Heat and led them to two NBA Finals appearances, received a tribute video before the game on Tuesday night.
While most of the fans applauded his contributions to the Heat, others jeered him throughout the match, especially when he scored a basket for the Warriors.
Warriors produce their second lowest scoring total of the year in Jimmy Butler’s return to Miami. Heat fans booed him every time he touched the ball. Here he is right after the final buzzer. pic.twitter.com/jPkZWiAcbG
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) March 26, 2025
However, his return could have been filled with a warm welcome if he had performed well against the Heat. Sadly, he ended his game with only 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
As a result, whenever he got the ball over the next four quarters, there were plenty of boos from all sides of the arena.
Jimmy Butler expresses gratitude for his Miami Heat years
Jimmy Butler, a six-time NBA All-Star, spent almost six years with the Heat. After the Warriors played against the Heat, he shared a heartfelt thank you to the team and its fans, even though his departure was dramatic and controversial.
Butler said, “I’m very appreciative of those times. To help me become the player that I am in this league, the individual that I am in this league, the teammate, the leader, all of those things. I don’t think I could be who I am today without my opportunity here.”
The 35-year-old added, “I’m very appreciative for my time here. The bonds that I’ve built here. When you look down the road, this was a huge part of my career.”
