Jimmy Butler viewed the behavior of Pat Riley as “unhinged and disturbing” during a meeting on Jan. 7th where the Miami Heat attempted to reconcile the partnership, sources tell The Athletic in a lengthy account of the relationship between player and franchise. Riley had tears in his eyes as he attempted to connect with Butler on a human level. Riley spoke of how they had both lost their fathers with the death of Butler’s occurring last season. Riley also offered “unsolicited and unwanted” parenting advice, according to those close to Butler.
The message didn’t land with Butler and he left the meeting even more convinced he needed a trade from the Heat. Riley promptly sent word that the meeting didn’t go well and that he was more motivated than previously to trade Butler.
In the subsequent weeks before his eventual trade and across multiple suspensions, the interactions were cold and businesslike. As frustrated as the Heat were with Butler, the feeling was mutual for Butler with the Heat.
Butler and Riley were previously very close, but the partnership began to unravel when Riley called him out in his press conference after the season.
“If you’re not on the court playing … you should keep your mouth shut,” Riley said.
Riley also said the Heat would have to think harder about an extension due to Butler’s unavailability. Butler told the Heat in June he would not be signing a contract extension.