Last month, the Miami Heat saw a lot of internal conflicts come to the surface when Jimmy Butler had a massive argument with head coach Erik Spoelstra and Udonis Haslem. Haslem and Butler almost came to blows and had to be separated from the rest of the team. What was said between the two was unclear, but Haslem has broken his silence on the matter and revealed what exactly went down.
Udonis Haslem spoke recently in an interview about the heated exchange he and Jimmy Butler had, and what were the words that were exchanged between the two. Haslem noted that both players were ready to throw hands with each other, but also that the atmosphere was tense because of the team’s track record. He added that both players could have handled it better, but didn’t regret what happened (7:26 onwards).
“We both said we gon’ kick each other’s a**. I mean, it was just a situation – it’s an up and down last couple games, a lot of frustration, a lot of tension. We just trying to get the solution on how to win. I just wanted all of us to be on the same page, and as the captain, as a leader, it was just a situation where it could’ve gone either way… I could’ve been a little more coolheaded, Jimmy could have been a little more coolheaded. But I don’t think either one of us regret that situation because you look at the basketball we playing now.”
Haslem and Butler have clearly made peace with what happened, and the Heat have moved on from it. In the end, things worked out quite well for Miami, as they secured the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they are considered one of the favorites to come out of the East and reach the NBA Finals.
Jimmy Butler and Udonis Haslem are two players that perfectly encapsulate the Heat culture, and their passion for the sport is quite visible. Their exchange appears to have been nothing more than a minor disagreement, and the two have put their differences aside and are now locked in and focused on their playoff goal.
