“ He will have the possibility of (lift option) and we will have the possibility of (THE) extend. » Pat Riley sums up in a few words what can wait Jimmy Butler and the Heat at the end of the upcoming season. While Bam Adebayo chose to extend this summer, the team leader must wait before clarifying his contractual situation.
For the record, the winger, 11th salary in the league with approximately $49 million this year, has an option for the 2025.26 season worth $52.4 million. By giving it up and going “free agent”, he could aim for an extension of 243 million dollars and four additional seasons in Miami, or 171 million over three years with another team.
“ I don't want it “, retorts Pat Riley about the scenario where the strong man of recent years would leave Miami without the Heat obtaining the slightest compensation.
Don't pull yourself down
“ I try to get all those thoughts out of our heads because it's about living in the moment and playing basketball. If something pulls me down or pulls him down because of that, then we're not going to perform at a certain level. But I think he understands exactly where he stands, I think he understands where we stand », Continues the charismatic president of the franchise.
The latter assures that he does not need to discuss the situation much with his player. “ I sometimes spoke with his agent. I no longer need to sit down and have these meetings with (Butler). He is a very intelligent man », he describes.
Intelligent enough to understand that his leader seems to be expecting a rebound from him? After a very accomplished 2023 season, ending in apotheosis with an NBA final, Jimmy Butler experienced a slight statistical decline last year. And especially missed the playoffs, which generated a skirmish with its leader.
The death of his father
His season was also disrupted by the death of his father last February. “ We all knew. It's a hard blow. Since 2020, I have lost two very close family members […] We don't tell anyone about it, but it impacts the way you play and the way you behave. Jimmy had a rough year last year from a personal standpoint », Judge Pat Riley.
And on a physical level, because he still missed around twenty matches. Being in the spirit of being more available, Jimmy Butler sent a first signal by playing the four preseason meetings, after having missed them all last year. Against the Hawkshe showed his ease with his 24 points (8/11).
“ What I saw last night (against the Hawks) and what I hope to see in the future this year is someone who has a chance to lead us to where we can play to win. That's all we want », concludes Pat Riley.
| Jimmy Butler | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 42 | 9 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 76.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.1 | 80.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.6 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 67 | 39 | 39.7 | 28.3 | 76.9 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 65 | 39 | 46.2 | 37.8 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 67 | 37 | 45.5 | 31.1 | 83.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHI | 76 | 37 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 86.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 23.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 59 | 37 | 47.4 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 65 | 34 | 46.2 | 34.7 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 55 | 33 | 46.1 | 33.8 | 86.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 10 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.8 | 78.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 21.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 58 | 34 | 45.5 | 24.4 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 24.5 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 57 | 34 | 48.0 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 21.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 64 | 33 | 53.9 | 35.0 | 85.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.9 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 60 | 34 | 49.9 | 41.4 | 85.8 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| Total | 814 | 33 | 47.0 | 32.9 | 84.4 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 18.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
