Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) drives on Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) during the second half of an NBA game at Kaseya Center on March 25, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
When Jimmy Butler made his return to Kaseya Center in March less than two months after the Miami Heat traded him to the Golden State Warriors, there were a lot of emotions and tension swirling around that matchup.
After all, there was a trade request from Butler, three suspensions without pay issued by the Heat and an airing of grievances against each other along the way before the Feb. 6 trade. The Heat ended up dominating the Warriors and Butler in their first matchup since the move, earning a 112-86 victory on March 25 in Miami.
But the Heat doesn’t expect the same kind of emotion when Butler returns on Wednesday for his second game at Kaseya Center since the trade. Heat coaches and players have moved on since Butler’s ugly and messy departure.
“We already have done the game, so how many games do we have to play for it not to be the big storyline?” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said following Tuesday’s practice in preparation for Wednesday’s matchup against the Warriors at Kaseya Center (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Sun).
Heat players echoed Spoelstra’s sentiment on the topic.
“You kind of block it out,” Heat center and captain Bam Adebayo said. “You move forward in life. We got a great team playing great basketball, and you want to continue that rather than try to chase a headline.”
Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. added: “I’m sure the media and the public have their own feelings. But for us, we did our thing. We played our games, we went there, they went and been here, kind of moved on. I think both guys are enjoying their new time. And we’re here, they’re there, and we’re taking it as another game.”
The Heat acquired Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick from Golden State, and Davion Mitchell from the Toronto Raptors in the Butler deal.
Wiggins and Mitchell are currently playing as Heat starters, and Miami used Golden State’s 2025 first-round pick to take guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft. The Heat then flipped Anderson in a package that also included center Kevin Love to land guard Norman Powell in three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz this past offseason.
“We have great guys,” Heat forward Nikola Jovic said of this season’s roster. “Guys like Wiggs, Norman, Davion are great people outside of the court, and I think that’s even more important than how good of players they are. It feels like a family. “
The Heat currently sits at 8-6 through 14 games this season. Meanwhile, the Warriors enter Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic in Orlando with a 9-6 record.
Butler, 36, enters Tuesday averaging 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game this season. It remains to be seen if Butler will even play Wednesday in Miami since the Warriors will be on the second night of a back-to-back set and playing their third game in four nights.
“I think we’re all very comfortable right now,” Jaquez said of the current state of the Heat. “We’ve had a lot of time to just sit and be with each other as a team. And we’re just excited with how this year is going. We’ve still got a lot to get better, and tomorrow is another opportunity for us to just continue to grow as a team.”
Jovic has also moved on despite being one of Butler’s closest friends on Miami’s roster before last season’s trade. But Jovic also still values his friendship with Butler months after the deal.
“I still look at him as a brother, as a part of a family,” Jovic said. “I learned a lot from him. He helped me a lot, and I don’t think I’ll ever have anything bad to say about him. I still look up to him, and I was looking up to him when he was here. I can say that he was my role model. And, yeah, it’s all love.”
ADEBAYO UPGRADED
After missing the last six games with a left big toe sprain, Adebayo has been upgraded to questionable for Wednesday’s matchup against the Warriors. Adebayo is “optimistic” he’ll make his return to game action on Wednesday after taking part in practice on Sunday and Tuesday.
“He’s had two good practices and all the stuff behind the scenes, he’s really been putting in the time,” Spoelstra said of Adebayo following Tuesday’s practice. “The treatment, the active work, I think it has been a responsible plan. And then we’ll see what the trainers say in the next 24 hours.”
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) and guard Tyler Herro (14) talk on the bench during the first half of a game against the New York Knicks on Nov. 17, 2025, at Kaseya Center in Miami. Alie Skowronski askowronski@miamiherald.com
Adebayo, a three-time NBA All-Star, averaged 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and one steal per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 16 of 47 (34 percent) from three-point range in eight appearances (all starts) this season before missing the last six games with a toe injury.
“That shouldn’t be a wonder to people out there,” Spoelstra said when asked whether Adebayo’s absence has served as a reminder of his value. “You’re talking about one of the very best two-way players in the game. He’s going to make an impact. All these things that he does are things that impact winning.”
The Heat managed to go 4-2 in the six games that Adebayo missed.
While Adebayo could return Wednesday, Heat guard Tyler Herro remains out. Herro, who underwent ankle surgery in September, hopes to make his season debut next week.
THANKSGIVING FESTIVITIES
The Heat on Tuesday held its 34th annual Thanksgiving Celebration event at the Miami Rescue Mission.
As a result of the event that featured Heat players, coaches and executives, 600 Thanksgiving baskets were distributed to underserved families. In addition, 450 hot meals were served to residents of the Miami Rescue Mission.
Additional beneficiaries from the event included Feeding South Florida, Curley’s House of Style Hope Relief Food Bank, SafeSpace, Salvation Army, Amigos for Kids, The Shop at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Volunteers of America, and others.