Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler refused to sign a contract extension with the franchise, prompting trade interests from the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets. However, during Miami’s media day, the six-time NBA All-Star cleared his intentions for the future with the Heat. Butler put all the rumors aside on Saturday, claiming to play “as many games as possible” in the 2024-25 season.
Jimmy Butler is in the last guaranteed year of his three-year, $146.4 million contract, which includes a $52.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season. This season, the small forward will earn a $48.8 million salary, with a player option available in June.
Following the Miami Heat’s practice on Saturday, Butler claimed to play as many games as possible this season. “I want to play as many games as possible. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t need to put a number on the amount of games that I play. I know the more games that I play, the more opportunities that my squad has of winning,” the Heat forward said, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
After the 2016-17 NBA season, Butler played 60 or more games only in the last two seasons. Since joining the Miami Heat in 2019, the 35-year-old NBA star played his most games in the 2022-23 season with 64 appearances.
Jimmy Butler Not Aiming For Big Contracts And Achievements But For Win
Many believed that Butler’s not signing an extension could be due to his desire for a bigger contract. ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst claimed that Butler didn’t opt for the player option because he is looking for a two-year contract extension. In his Saturday interview, Butler revealed he is not aiming for big contracts, NBA accolades, or other honors. But he is motivated for the 2024-25 season for just one reason, which is to “win.”
“If we’re being brutally honest, no matter what, nothing I do now is going to get me paid anymore money. Even though I don’t care about the money. All-NBA, dah, dah, dah, dah, none of that is going to matter. I’m at a point right now that I got more than enough money. I’m just here to win,” Butler said, per Chiang.
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The Miami Heat shared a win and a loss in their first two preseason games. Butler played over 16 minutes in both games as the Heat lost to the Charlotte Hornets and defeated the New Orleans Pelicans. The Heat are scheduled to play three more games ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Also Read: Miami Heat Superstar Jimmy Butler Bluntly Blames 76ers Star For His Season-Ending Injury Last Year
