So where was Jimmy Butler on day Heat flew to Milwaukee? Details offer unique, unexpected insight.

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Jan 23, 2025

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MILWAUKEE — Just when you thought Jimmy Butler v. Miami Heat had traversed every pathway of the absurd came background issued Thursday, a day after the Heat suspended Butler for two games for missing a team flight.

As for the rest of the story?

That followed from a subject line of: Jimmy Butler unexpectedly attends Reserve Cup Draft Dinner amid suspension.

As in the Reserve Cup in Miami, a championship event for padel, a racquet sport that is similar to tennis but played in an enclosed court with walls, one that Butler has played and promoted over the years.

The background on Butler’s day away, in its entirety, as supplied Thursday by the event’s promotion, along with a photo of the event held the same day as the Heat’s team flight to Milwaukee:

“While the ongoing Drama with Jimmy Butler and The Miami HEAT continues amid his most recent two game suspension that started last night, it does not seem to be affecting his mood.

“Jimmy Butler showed up unexpectedly to the Reserve Cup draft and dinner hosted by Moncayo Ocean Club at a private residence in Miami. Butler, who serves as the honorary chairman with Wayne Boich for Reserve Cup Series, attended the Miami kickoff event to quite literally take the Heat off himself.

“According to a source, ‘Butler seemed to be in a good mood at the event, talking sports and hanging with the best padel players in the world. He loves the sport and the competitive fire that these athletes have.’

“While Butler was there to show support to players and have them be the stars, Team Captain and Comedian Andrew Schulz couldn’t help but make a joke to the entire room prior to the team draft starting. The insider also mentioned, when the draft started Schulz grabbed the mic and joked about Butler ‘if anyone asks he was NOT here, he was at the Heat facility practicing ... that was someone else you saw’ causing the room to break out in laughter.

“Butler, who has served an honorary chair for the Reserve Cup for the past two years, was seen talking to Schulz, who has also become an avid padel player before sitting down to a special meal prepared by chef Mark Iacono of Lucali. Claire Holt, Jerry Juedy, David Grutman & Brandon Marshall were among the attendees at the event.”

That was the entirety of the release.