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[Saba Sports News] Jimmy Butler isn’t interested in any friendly reunions with Pat Riley.
The former Miami Heat star had a turbulent season that ended with him being traded to the Golden State Warriors after ongoing tensions with the front office.
Butler had pushed for a contract extension last offseason, and when the Heat declined, he requested a trade. Miami initially resisted and suspended Butler three times before ultimately dealing him to Golden State at the deadline last month.
Despite the move, the bad blood remains—particularly between Butler and Heat president Pat Riley.
During Tuesday’s nationally televised game between the Warriors and Heat, TNT’s Taylor Rooks shared a blunt quote from Butler about his former boss.
“I have nothing to say to Pat, and Pat better have nothing to say to me,” Butler reportedly told Rooks.
It’s a stark reflection of how far the relationship has deteriorated.
Since the trade, Butler’s Warriors have thrived, going 16–3 in games he’s played. The Heat, on the other hand, have struggled mightily, going just 5–17 since the deal.
Their relationship reportedly hit a breaking point during a tense meeting in January. This marked a surprising turn given their past success together—Riley acquired Butler from the 76ers in 2019, and the two helped lead Miami to three Eastern Conference Finals appearances and two NBA Finals berths.
Now, that once-successful partnership appears to be completely fractured.