NBA star Jimmy Butler to remain sidelined due to illness, according to Heat

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will be sitting out for at least the last two games of his team’s road trip as he continues to recover from an illness. The Heat announced that the six-time All-Star will not be available for their upcoming games against the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets this weekend.

However, there is a possibility that Butler could make his return on New Year’s Day when the Heat take on the New Orleans Pelicans. The team will be closely monitoring his recovery over the next few days before making a decision on his return to the court.

Butler has been out of action since the first quarter of Miami’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 20th, where he twisted his ankle and was then ruled out due to illness. The Heat have played three games without him since then, with Butler missing two games due to sickness and sitting out Thursday’s win in Orlando as he remained in Miami to prepare for his comeback.

The Heat made it clear on Thursday that they have no intentions of trading Butler, despite reports suggesting otherwise. ESPN had reported that Butler, who led the NBA in steals in 2021, was looking to be moved before the trade deadline on February 6th.

Heat President Pat Riley addressed the trade rumors, stating, “We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.”

Butler himself has not publicly expressed any desire to be traded and continues to focus on helping the team. He is currently averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season.

It remains to be seen when Butler will make his return to the court, but for now, the Heat will be without their star player for the remainder of their road trip. Fans will be eagerly awaiting his comeback as Miami looks to continue their strong performance in the upcoming games.