Jimmy Butler returned to the Miami Heat court Friday night after serving a seven-game suspension due to “multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team,” and while the suspension may be over, the drama that ‘surrounds is far from being the case.
In a column published Friday, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Butler would still like to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline and that there is “palpable fear” within the organization about what he might do Next.
That’s right, palpable fear. A rather aggressive use of words that, after also being used on an ESPN chyron on Friday, sent NBA fans into a hilarious frenzy.
Here’s a look at some of the best reactions:
sorry for taking a picture of my tv but this is the funniest chyron i have ever seen, bar none pic.twitter.com/G42B3RYG99
-Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 17, 2025
it’s like a report on a wild animal in Central Park pic.twitter.com/9OUD3csjxi
-Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 17, 2025
palpable fear is wild https://t.co/Dwy9Vv1CGM
– Tucker Kraft Stan – will die for him (@anitamae21) January 18, 2025
“There is palpable fear about what Butler could do”
I’m so tired but I can’t stop laughing https://t.co/KClgilteps
– Jake (@JakeTheOliveira) January 18, 2025
💀💀💀 https://t.co/I78klQ1NgM
– sad boi shinji (@8Fourteen) January 18, 2025
They talk about Jimmy Butler like he’s Nosferatu. https://t.co/X9WEbi7RR7
–Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) January 18, 2025
Palpable Dread should be the name of a metal band
– Eater (@Eathearty8alot) January 18, 2025
they talk about Jimmy Butler like he’s a Star Wars villain https://t.co/DYXO8bRmW4
– Jordan (@scripuh) January 18, 2025
💀💀💀💀 what they think he will do https://t.co/M4cnTpSKcE
-Antoine Hardy (@Slangdini) January 18, 2025
Butler is averaging 18 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 31 minutes per game so far this season. He started in Friday night’s game for the Heat against the Denver Nuggets.
