Mar 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images John Hefti-Imagn Images

Bam Adebayo's Message After Jimmy Butler Snubs Teammates

Originally posted on Golden State Warriors on SI
By Farbod Esnaashari | Last updated Mar 29, 2025 11:02 PM ET

Jimmy Butler is known as one of the most fierce competitors in the modern NBA. If a player isn't his teammate, then he's going to show no love, even to his former teammates.

When the Golden State Warriors visited the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler's return on Tuesday night, the game ended not only in a blowout loss for the Warriors but also with Butler snubbing his former teammates.

At the end of the game, Butler walked back to the Warriors locker room without exchanging any handshakes or words with Bam Adebayo, Kevin Love, or any of his teammates that he spent two NBA Finals with.

After the game Jimmy Butler doesn't shake hands/go to his former Heat teammates, going instead to his entourage and then straight to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/HSuKnYX2dr
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) March 26, 2025

When Adebayo was asked about the moment by Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald, he didn't take it personally

“I’m not shocked. It is what it is," Adebayo said. “It’s a business at the end of the day. And he has a Golden State Warriors jersey on. We have a Heat jersey on. I don’t take it personal. We’re out there to do our job anyways. So if you don’t want to speak, we don’t speak and that’s fine. We’re going to get out here, we’re going to compete, win or lose the game and we move on.”

Jimmy Butler spoke on his return to Miami and the Heat's video tribute for him. pic.twitter.com/gMRq17Jrcj
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 26, 2025

It's an unfortunate and ugly situation for Butler and the Miami Heat, especially with how much he elevated the franchise. At the same, Butler had one of ugliest exits possible from the franchise, with two suspensions included.

At the end of the day, it's exactly as Adebayo says: It is what it is.

This article first appeared on Golden State Warriors on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: