Miami Heat Star granted leave of absence to deal with death of family member
Miami Heat player Jimmy Butler will be absent from Sunday’s game against the Boston Celtics due to a family tragedy. He had been uncertain to play in the game for personal reasons after missing Friday and Saturday’s practices.
The Heat’s statement issued by Jimmy Butler’s agent Bernie Lee stated, “Jimmy Butler has been given permission to take time off to cope with the passing of a family member. Jimmy and his family request privacy during this difficult time. Further information will be shared as deemed necessary.”
Statement on Jimmy Butler per his agent, Bernie Lee
Jimmy Butler has been granted a leave of absence as he deals with the death of a family member. Jimmy and his family ask for privacy at this point in time as they navigate this loss. Updates will be given when appropriate.
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) February 11, 2024
Miami had a turnaround with four wins in the last five games following a seven-game losing streak, mainly thanks to Butler’s outstanding performances, including a triple-double against the San Antonio Spurs last Wednesday. Nevertheless, personal matters have rightfully taken precedence over basketball.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra expressed his support for Butler before Sunday’s game, emphasizing that both he and the team are there to support him.
Spoelstra stated, “We’re standing by him. We’ve had two practices where he wasn’t present. We appreciate having had that time to practice, especially at this point in the season. We needed to address some issues, and now we’re focusing on playing against a strong opponent today.”
Erik Spoelstra talks about not having Jimmy Butler tonight for personal reasons. #HeatCulture
“We’re here for him…” pic.twitter.com/cAsHHK7UpK
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 11, 2024
In the current season, Butler has been posting averages of 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, with a 50 percent shooting accuracy from the field across 37 games. Following the Celtics matchup today, Miami will embark on a six-game road trip before returning home at the start of March.
