Getty Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Arena on February 26, 2021.
Miami Heat fans were up in arms after the franchise was denied a game on Christmas Day, the marquee date for contending teams to showcase themselves. The decision seems to stem from the Heat getting bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs, although it’s a bit unfair when you look at their rebuilt roster.
Jimmy Butler inked a $184 million contract extension this offseason. The Heat added Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade, then brought in P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris. They also re-upped Duncan Robinson and kept Tyler Herro in two moves that confirmed team president Pat Riley’s promise to keep his young nucleus intact. No Christmas Day game, though. That stings.
The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Saturday, Dec. 25) for the 14th year in a row, with ESPN or ABC televising each matchup.
Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, took to Twitter to express frustration at the holiday snub. He wrote that his client was more concerned about playing on Memorial Day than Christmas Day, a feeling shared throughout the Heat echo chamber. And Lee used the staggeringly effective Michael Jordan “Last Dance” meme to further the point.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pointed to a first-round playoff exit as the deciding factor for Butler’s squad not being showcased on Christmas Day. In fact, the Heat have no nationally-televised games to start the 2021-22 season. The Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks kick the NBA slate off on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. on TNT, followed by the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. Wait, why the Warriors? Exactly.
https://twitter.com/wcgoldberg/status/1427717968201502725?s=20
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“It’s been really tough for us to see a player as incredible as that go.” – Masai Ujiri unprompted decides to speak about Kyle Lowry in his opening address
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Heat assistant coach Malik Allen sat out several key players in that one, including Max Strus, Marcus Garrett, Gabe Vincent, Omer Yurtseven. Those decisions were happening across the NBA as teams look to give their younger guys – and possible training camp invites – one final look before the preseason. Heat camp begins on Sept. 28 in South Beach.
YURTSEVEN OOP 🔥
DeJon Jarreau lobs it to @OmerYurtseven5 for the game-tying bucket!
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Jimmy Butler’s Agent Reacts to Miami Heat Christmas Snub