NBA Rumors: Heat Star Displeased With 2020 All-Star Game Exposure

The 2020 NBA All-Star game is a wrap but there are reportedly some players who are unhappy with the time they got on the floor. One player is allegedly Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat who did not get the chance to play in the payoff period.

In total, Butler played a total of 13 minutes for the NBA Eastern Conference All-Star. He finished with four points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals. He came off the bench and made a pretty good account of himself with the playing time he was given. And though he saw limited action, observers noticed several things, including Butler angered of not playing in the fourth period.

There was nothing at pride at stake with the LeBron James-led West All-Stars winning it, 157-155. Though the format was different, it remains that it was nothing more than an exhibition match. But being the competitor he is, Butler is seen by most as wanting to be on the floor when clutch moments arise. All of that may not matter now but the 30-year-old swingman could use the snub as a means to push him to prove a point.

Butler needs to understand that the was with other star players from other NBA teams. On the part of East All-Star head coach Nick Nurse, it was no easy task trying to pull off the win. As for Butler, a fire could be lit from within, something that Miami could put to good use.

The Heat are running fourth in the NBA Eastern Conference with a 35-19 win-loss record. Miami got even better following the acquisition of Andre Iguodala. The South Beach squad is coming off a loss before the All-Star break. They get a chance to bounce back on Thursday when they face the lowly Atlanta Hawks.

Butler has been doing a fine job leading the Heat despite drawing controversy on his motivational methods. Most know how things went when he was still with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But with the way the Heat are playing now, it appears Butler had good intentions of pushing young players.

With Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro responding well, the Heat have surprised critics with their 2019-20 showing. No less than NBA vet Goran Dragic lauds Butler has the right intentions and simply wants to push the team to get better, the Miami Herald reported.

“If you’re not used to it, it can [be] like, ‘I don’t like him.’ But this is the perfect situation for us and Jimmy. He just wants you and the team to get better,” Dragic said.