Miami Heat swingman Jimmy Butler alluded to a potential reasoning for his decision to leave the Philadelphia 76ers and subsequently join the Heat this past summer after the Sixers thrashed Miami on Saturday night, though he would not go into detail.
Butler told Michael Lee of The Athletic that “something happened” in Philadelphia that resulted in him seeking out another destination in free agency:
“Obviously, something happened,” Butler told The Athletic while lacing up his boots after the 76ers’ woodshed-worthy, 113-86 beatdown at Wells Fargo Center. “We’re not going to say what it was. We’re not going to go into detail. We can’t keep living on that. They can’t. But I’m happy, man. It brings me joy, being around this group of guys (in Miami). I don’t regret nothing, you feel me?”
This isn't the first time Butler has hinted at something like this. He heard the boo birds from the Philly crowd during the pregame introductions before suffering one of his worst games of the year. Butler shot just 4-of-13 from the field and posted his worst Game Score (8.9) and plus-minus (minus-31) of the season, according to Basketball-Reference.
Despite the shaky reception from the fans, Sixers center Joel Embiid showed Butler love in an Instagram post, and he has said since the beginning of the season that he wishes the two were still teammates.
That said, Butler is right to let bygones be bygones. The Heat are 11-4 and are currently tied for second place in the Eastern Conference, with Butler leading the team in scoring (18.8 points) and assists (6.7). He also leads the NBA with 2.8 steals per game.
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