Dwyane Wade Criticizes Jimmy Butler for Performances in Warriors' NBA Playoff Exit

Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade was not impressed by Jimmy Butler III's performance during the Golden State Warriors' second-round elimination by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

A Warriors lineup missing Stephen Curry was led in scoring by Brandin Podziemski, not Butler, during the team's season-ending Game 5 loss on May 14.

"I think the thing with Jimmy is, I didn't like the way he just approached the game," Wade said at the 47:00 mark of Time Out with Dwyane Wade on the WY Network. "I know Jimmy is a pass-first guy. I know he's about getting his teammates the ball, and want to see them shine. But it's a point where, you're getting $60 [million.] This ain't working. You gotta go.

"He won't look at the basket. And I've seen this before. I've seen it in the Heat jersey."

Wade continued, "Jimmy Butler's too good of a basketball player to not have his imprint on the game. And sorry, sir. When it's time for you to take over, you just have to. And even when you can't do it, from the standpoint of you ain't making no shots, I don't care. Shoot. It's bad offense if you're not shooting.

"Getting too close in that paint, and not putting that ball up to that basket, that's bad offense."

Wade went on to question whether Heat president Pat Riley's decision to decline to offer an extension to Butler was related to what he sees as inconsistency in Butler's playoff performances.

"It's not always because of injury. Sometimes I need to see what you going to do in every moment, not just in one moment," Wade said about Riley's decision.

The Warriors turned to Butler to preserve their postseason hopes while Curry was sidelined with a groin strain for the final four games of the postseason.

After answering that call with 33 points in a Game 3 defeat, Butler was held to 17 points or fewer in each of the Warriors' season-ending losses.

Butler's two-year, $111 million deal with the Warriors kicks in ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Warriors may need a bigger playoff showing from their star trade deadline acquisition in order for Curry and Draymond Green to make a deeper run next spring.