No Hard Feelings, Warriors Star Jimmy Butler Says, As He Prepares For His First Game Back In Miami

Jimmy Butler has been through these first-game-back matchups against former teams before. He got a standing ovation and a tribute video at Chicago in 2018. He got jeered in Minnesota in 2019. He got downright booed in his return to Philadelphia later that year.

Next up: His return to Miami on Tuesday.

And it's fair to expect a little of everything.

There will be a tribute video from the Heat, which is not uncommon for returning players who were All-Stars for the franchise. There almost certainly will be a thunderous introduction when his name is called alongside the rest of Golden State's starters. There will be some cheering. There will be plenty of booing. It all is to be expected, especially after Butler's final weeks in Miami were marred by three suspensions that preceded his trade to the Warriors last month.

"There are no hard feelings," Butler said Monday after the Warriors practiced at Barry University. "I'm in a better place now for me."