Following a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler candidly admitted he does not feel joy playing basketball in Miami anymore.
"What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball," Butler told the media after the loss. "Wherever that may be, we'll find out here pretty soon, but I want to get my joy back. I'm happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhat dominant; I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. But right now I'm not doing that."
Butler's comments further fueled trade speculation, and that the 35-year-old forward wants out of Miami. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, Butler wants to be traded before Feb. 6 deadline, but Heat president Pat Riley stated on Dec. 26 that the organization will not trade Butler. Earlier in December, head coach Erik Spoelstra also brushed off the trade rumors.
Butler's All-Star teammate Bam Adebayo appeared to downplay Butler's comments as a result of frustration from the team's loss.
“Think it’s a bad night all around," Adebayo said of Butler's comments. "Lose the game, obviously he’s frustrated, he feels like he’s standing in the corner, so he’s got a lot of things going on in his corner."
Heat guard Tyler Herro assured reporters that "vibes are great" in the Heat locker room, and said, "we're all trying to find joy at the same time."
Heat players and staff have consistently downplayed the trade rumors and discontent of Butler, but it's hard not to see tension brewing between Butler and the Heat organization.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Bam Adebayo Reacts to 'Frustrated' Jimmy Butler's Comments After Heat Loss.