Miami Heat president Pat Riley called out Jimmy Butler twice during his season-ending news conference on Monday.
Riley first criticized the six-time All-Star over his availability (or lack thereof) during the season.
Pat Riley starts by talking about how player availability is a major concern for the Heat. References how other players have their stars available for 70-or-so games.
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) May 6, 2024
Riley on Butler's availability during the regular season:
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) May 6, 2024
"That was discussed prior to last year. We had a discussion with his agent about that. That was discussed thoroughly. There was a grey area in the regular season."
Pat Riley when asked if Jimmy Butler can still be the top player on a championship-winning team: "Yes... but it will take some changes" in his availability.
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) May 6, 2024
Butler hasn't played in more than 64 games in a season since being traded to the Heat in July 2019. Butler appeared in 60 contests during the 2023-24 regular season before missing team's second play-in tournament game and the entire first-round series against the Boston Celtics with an MCL injury.
Riley also blasted Miami's best player for his recent comments regarding the eighth-seeded Heat's chances at beating the top-seeded Celtics or second-seeded New York Knicks in the playoffs. After his team's playoff elimination, Butler said that both Boston and New York would've lost to Miami if the 34-year-old had been healthy enough to play.
Pat Riley on Jimmy Butler's comments that the Heat would've won over Boston if he were healthy... "you should keep your mouth shut" pic.twitter.com/K1K3RVo0lt
— WPLG Local 10 Sports (@Local10Sports) May 6, 2024
"For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?'” Riley said. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.”
Butler is waiting for a potential contract extension, but Riley said that the team isn't in any rush to make a decision, given that he's still got another year on his deal.
Riley did add that despite his gripes with the Marquette product, he won't consider trading Butler this summer.
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