Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Argue Over Jimmy Butler Stance

The Miami Heat are struggling on the court while Jimmy Butler serves his second suspension this month. The Heat have fallen below .500 and into ninth place in the Eastern Conference after losing five of their past six games, including their 125–90 thrashing at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks last night (three of which […] The post Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Argue Over Jimmy Butler Stance appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.

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Jan 25, 2025 - 03:00
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Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Argue Over Jimmy Butler Stance

The Miami Heat are struggling on the court while Jimmy Butler serves his second suspension this month. The Heat have fallen below .500 and into ninth place in the Eastern Conference after losing five of their past six games, including their 125–90 thrashing at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks last night (three of which had Butler in the lineup).

Butler missed a team flight for the team’s two-game road trip to Milwaukee and Brooklyn, which resulted in his most recent two-game ban.

TNT’s Inside The NBA gets into a heated argument over Jimmy Butler

Before Thursday night’s game in Milwaukee, a contentious discussion about Butler’s handling of the situation broke out on TNT’s Inside the NBA. Shaquille O’Neal stated that it is “human nature” for Butler to want to be traded with only one year remaining on his contract (a player option for $52 million in 2025–26). Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, his coworkers, all strongly disagree.

Shaq stated: “I just think in this situation, it’s more about human nature,”

“I know exactly how Jimmy feels, I’ve been in this situaiton many times. All that I’ve done for you and you don’t want to give me what I want, so human nature kicks in.

“The part I hate about this business of basketball thing, it always has to be somebody’s fault.”

Barkley answered: “You can’t just not show up to work,”

He has been in Butler’s position, and if he showed up, O’Neal said, he wouldn’t “go all out.” Johnson, who typically serves as a referee when Shaq, Kenny, and Chuck spar, was even offended by that remark. Regardless of Butler’s current views toward team president Pat Riley, Barkley cannot imagine Butler disappointing his teammates and supporters.

“You can get mad at the Miami Heat organization, but the fans of Miami and those guys in that locker room have nothing to do with you wanting a contract extension.”

Butler is eagerly awaiting the trade deadline on February 6th, but he should be back on the squad in time for Monday’s home game against the Orlando Magic.

The post Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Argue Over Jimmy Butler Stance appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.

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