Erik Spoelstra Addresses Jimmy Butler Suspension With Heat: 'Get Over It'

Erik Spoelstra isn't wasting time on the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler as the Miami Heat also try to snap out of their recent funk with four losses in their last five games.

Speaking to reporters after Thursday's shootaround, Spoelstra explained his message to the team boiled down to "get over it" because this is the type of thing that can happen in the NBA.

"The point that I made to our team is get used to it," Spoelstra said. "Get over it. This is the NBA life; this is the life we chose. If you think it's going to be predictable, you're really mistaken."

Butler won't play in Thursday's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks after the Heat announced he was suspended two games for a "continued pattern of disregard of team rules, insubordinate conduct and conduct detrimental to the team" that included missing the flight to Milwaukee.

This marks the second time in three weeks Butler has been suspended by the Heat for conduct detrimental to the team. He served a seven-game suspension that was handed down on Jan. 3

When the initial suspension was announced, the Heat also said they "will listen to offers" after Butler and his representatives made it clear he wants to be traded.

There has been no indication yet that the Heat are close to moving Butler, but the trade deadline is rapidly approaching on Feb. 6. The Phoenix Suns have been cited as his preferred destination, to the point he wore shoes with their colors during Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

ESPN's Shams Charania has suggested a Butler trade could involve up to five teams, in part because the Heat want to maximize their return for a player who is still very good when he's on the court.

Bam Adebayo said on Jan. 4 that it's "disappointing" to see Butler and the Heat at odds, but the other players on the team "got to figure out how to win games."

The Heat sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-21 record. They've been able to make the playoffs in each of the past two seasons coming out of the play-in tournament, including a run to the NBA Finals during the 2022-23 campaign.

Butler is averaging 17.0 points on 54.0 percent shooting with 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in 25 starts this season. His next game, assuming he doesn't get traded before the suspension ends, will be on Monday when the Heat host to the Orlando Magic.