The Miami Heat are nearly 24 hours away from comensing their first full season with Jimmy Butler on the roster. It is astonishing the way that relationship ended given all the success together: three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals appearances.

However, last summer changed the trajectory dramatically.

After the 2024 regular season concluded, the Heat found themselves participating in the play-in tournament once again. They had tremendous success with it before, winning out and reaching the NBA Finals as an eighth seed in the 2023 playoffs, second ever in NBA history.

The Heat traveled to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. It was a battle to begin, but in the final seconds of the first quarter, on a fast break, Butler drew a foul, but suffered a knee injury on the play as Kelly Oubre Jr. landed on his leg. It was later revelead that he sustained an MCL sprain.

Butler played the rest of the game, but the Heat fell short of victory to the 76ers, with a final score of 105-104. He played through the pain, but couldn't go on further. The team would next play against the Chicago Bulls to clinch the final playoff spot, but they'd be without their leader.

The Heat managed to win their way into the postseason again, but were no match to their first-round matchup, the Boston Celtics, who ended up winning the championship that year. They lost the series after five games.

In that offseason, Butler went viral for some bold claims.

"If I was playing, Boston would be at home, New York damn sure would be [explicit] home," he said.

Butler and the Heat did beat the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks in their route to the NBA Finals in the 2023 playoffs. The confidence is based on recent reality. However it didn't sit well with team President Pat Riley.

"For him to say that, is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?" he said. "If you're not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against New York then you should keep your mouth shut."

After those comments, things would never be the same.

To add salt on the wound, Butler was eligible to a contract extension, in which he never received. There never appeared to be conversations between Riley and his agent.

Afterwards, there was some disgruntlement between veteran forward and the organization, to the point that suspesions and fines were involved, including a famous quote from Butler shortly before his Heat tenure ultimately ended.

"I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball," he said in a postgame press conference after a loss to the Indiana Pacers. "Whereever that may be, we'll find out pretty soon."

Shortly after, at trade deadline day, Butler officially was out of Miami and headed to the West Coast, joining the Golden State Warriors. He also signed a two-year, $110.96 million extension with the organization.

As this season begins, both parties enter new chapters in their respective lives and careers. There had been no news about Butler in correlation to the Heat, until recently.

The 36-year-old made new comments about the situation, saying it all paid off and that there are no longer hidden agendas.

"All that noise, all that chaos paid off in a major way," Butler said. "I'm lucky to be part of this phenomenal organization. I get to play in this wonderful league, with amazing teammates. Being here, they've only got one goal. No hidden agendas."

Butler was a vocal point in the Heat's success throughout his tenure. Every year, in the postseason, he would record historic performances, with "Playoff Jimmy" being his alter ego.

"Let the people talk," he added. The people that are lying know they're lying. I don't need to correct anything. That's behind me."

Butler's impact for the Heat organization is undeniable and the ending certainly came surprisingly. The full details of the situation aren't known and time will tell if we ever do.