Jimmy Butler has shown his anger at the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics by declaring that he would have spared his Florida franchise’s NBA Playoff loss if he had participated in the series.
The 34-year-old small forward, nicknamed “Jimmy Buckets” because of his nickname, has been the Heat’s standout player since he joined them in 2019. He has also gone on to become a two-time NBA All-standout during his time in Miami.
However, he was unable to play in the NBA Playoffs because of a meniscus cruciate ligament injury that ended his season. This meant that he was practically unable to sprint or jump in order to make a basket.
It capped off an incredible 2023 in which he averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and five assists per game, demonstrating his capacity to lead his team to victory on the court. When his frustrations boiled out, he reaffirmed this in an intense interview.
“If I was playing, Boston would be at home,” said Butler as per ClutchPoints.com. “New York damn sure would be f**king at home.”
Butler continued by insulting Tom Thibodeau, the team’s manager and a former teammate of Butler’s at the Chicago Bulls, as well as Josh Hart, the power forward for the New York Knicks.
The outburst follows the Celtics’ 118-84 victory over the Heat at the TD Garden in Massachusetts, which gave them the series’ fourth and final victory and sent them to the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
The final three games of the Heat’s winning streak were losses, with the following standings: Heat win Game Two 111-101, Celtics win Games Three, Four, and Five 104-84, 102-88, and 118-84; Celtics win Game One 114-94. That being said, it is evident that the offense lacked significantly in Butler’s absence.
Next up for the Celtics is who?The Celtics are now two series away from the NBA Finals and their first championship since 2008—and only their second since 1986—as they advance to the Conference Semifinals.
They won the Eastern Conference after finishing the regular season with a 64-18/.780 record, and their next challenger will be either the Orlando Magic or the Cleveland Cavaliers, who wrap up their series on May 5 at 13:00 ET.