“This was my favorite trade,” Shaquille O’Neal said on Inside the NBA. Which one? The Big Diesel was just one of the many who was excited about the Miami Heat sending Jimmy Butler to the Warriors. It was an ugly exit, with the franchise suspending the player a few times. And after Butler’s much-anticipated move to the Warriors, the team saw improvement. That was until issues arose. As many criticized Butler, O’Neal was quick to defend the Warriors star.
The Warriors’ star, Stephen Curry, is out with a pelvic contusion, and his absence turned out to be a bit too much for the team. Their latest game against the Miami Heat had a lot of hype considering this was Butler’s return. The pressure was at an all-time high. During the NBA pregame show, NBA legend O’Neal predicted that Butler would drop at least 40 points to secure a win for the Warriors. “Knowing Jimmy, I’m thinking he’s gonna go for 40 tonight,” he said.
However, dashing his hopes, the Warriors lost to the Miami Heat, with Curry’s absence leaving a clear hole on the offensive end. Following this, at the Tuesday segment of NBA on TNT, Adam Lefkoe asked Candace Parker about Nick Van Exel’s X comment. “5 days in Miami and playing w/out Steph. Yea that score is about right. Lol.” But before the WNBA star could respond, O’Neal stepped in to support Butler, clarifying his stance.
“It’s hard to hold a grudge for five days in a place like Miami. Listen Jimmy wanted to play great but listen they just obviously they were flat they just had too much fun in Miami now when you’re a player no excuse is kind you know we’re not going to use that as an excuse but we know what’s going on five days of Miami concentration is at zero period,” he said.
Jan 19, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal sits courtside during the first half between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
The Warriors’ offense took a major blow after Klay Thompson left. However, they still had Curry and Buddy Hield. While Butler’s presence brought new hope and energy to the franchise, it seemingly faded with Curry’s absence.
Despite Shaquille O’Neal’s expectations, the Warriors faced a disappointing defeat to Miami Heat
It was with the Heat that Butler earned All-Star selections, had multiple playoff runs, and reached the NBA Finals twice. His five-and-a-half-year tenure with the franchise was undeniably iconic. It was obvious that several eyes would be watching Butler’s game against the Heat. And a power-packed performance was expected.
It didn’t go as O’Neal had expected. After much struggle, Butler finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds in his 29 minutes of playing time. Without Curry, the Warriors put up the worst offense. The Miami Heat made a dominating presence. Bam Adebayo was the star of the show, hitting 27 points to lead the team.
The team made an awe-inspiring 17 successful three-pointers. The Miami Heat ended up with a 112-86 win over the Golden State.
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