Tim Hardaway did not mince words when criticizing Jimmy Butler’s departure from the Miami Heat, calling him a “crybaby” over his contract dispute.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, the former NBA star expressed his disapproval of Butler’s trade request after Miami declined to offer him an extension. Hardaway argued that Butler should have accepted the team’s stance instead of forcing his way out.
“I didn’t agree with what he was doing. You’re under contract. You a baby. You’re a crybaby because they said no to you,” Hardaway said. He added that players in his era often faced rejection but handled it differently.
Hardaway also pointed out that Miami’s concern about Butler’s availability was valid. He noted that if Butler had played more games, the Heat could have avoided the play-in tournament in consecutive years.
“They said, ‘No, we want to see you play more games. We don’t want to be in the play-in games.’ If he played more games, they never would have been in the play-in games,” Hardaway continued.
He also criticized the Heat’s handling of Butler’s past conflicts, specifically his heated exchange with head coach Erik Spoelstra during a timeout in 2022. Hardaway argued that Miami should have disciplined Butler to set a precedent.
“When he went after Spoelstra, told Spoelstra he’d kick his butt, that should have been like, ‘Yo, you getting three to five games [suspension]. You don’t talk to the coach like that,'” Hardaway said.
Butler’s situation with the Heat reached a breaking point before the trade deadline. On February 6, he was dealt to the Golden State Warriors in a five-team trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to Miami.
As part of the move, Butler declined his player option for the 2025-26 season and signed a two-year, $121 million contract extension with Golden State. He also chose to wear “Butler III” on his jersey to honor his late father.
Before the trade, Butler was averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 30.6 minutes per game with Miami. Since joining the Warriors, his numbers have improved to 21.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 32.5 minutes per game.
