Jimmy Butler said he probably won't find joy in basketball again while playing for the Heat

Miami Heat superstar forward Jimmy Butler sounds very ready to play for another team.

Butler had some strong words after Miami’s home loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night about getting his joy back for playing basketball.

Butler alluded that the best chances of regaining his joy for the game most likely involve playing for another NBA franchise.

“I want to get my joy back,” Butler said in his postgame press conference.
“I’m happy here off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop, and I want to help this team win right now. I’m not doing that.”

When asked if it’s possible for him to get his joy back in Miami on the court, he squarely responded, “Probably not.”

"Probably not."

—Jimmy Butler when asked if he could get his joy back in Miami. pic.twitter.com/5gahEJxWM7

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2025

On Christmas, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Butler preferred being traded from Miami to a contender. However, team president Pat Riley put out a statement the day after saying Butler would not be traded.

The Heat are 17-15 this season, but Butler seems very determined to move on to play for another team. Him sporting orange hair after recent Phoenix Suns rumors opened eyes last month, even if that seemed like trolling.

Butler’s Thursday comments carried a very serious tone, however. His somber words really do make it seem like he has reached a point of no return with the Heat for whatever reason.

The Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline looms large, and a deal out of Miami feels more likely than ever if this is really how Butler feels.