Jimmy Butler doesn’t apologize. That’s just not his style. So when he walked up to Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after a loss, the words slipped out. “Coach, I’m sorry. I hate losing. I can’t sit out any more games.”

In his time, Kerr had seen more than his share of overwrought players, but this? This was different. Butler had been out of the last game because of a back issue, something the Warriors medical staff suggested was needed. He was apologizing here, after losing and apologizing like he was the one that cost them the win. Kerr’s response? “Jimmy, you’ve got to stay healthy.” But Butler wasn’t having it. “No way, we can’t lose any more.”

That moment told Kerr everything he needed to know. Some players love the game, but Butler? He lives for it. And that’s exactly why this upcoming Warriors-Heat showdown is about so much more than just a revenge game—it’s about the fire that makes Butler who he is.

Ever since landing in Golden State, Butler has been on a mission. The Warriors have gone 16-4 since his debut, and his relentless mentality is a big reason why.

Kerr, who has been around some of the greatest competitors ever—including Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and Stephen Curry—sees that same mindset in Butler. “You don’t get to that level if you don’t love to play the game. And he loves basketball. He loves being out on the floor.”

But let’s be real—this wasn’t supposed to happen. Butler was meant to be a Miami Heat lifer, the face of their culture, the embodiment of everything “Heat Culture” stood for. Instead, three suspensions and a messy breakup later, he’s now suiting up for a team that actually embraces his intensity instead of trying to control it.

The Miami mess Butler left behind

While Butler has helped the Warriors soar, the Heat? They’ve completely unraveled without him. Miami has gone 5-16 since trading him, including a brutal 10-game losing streak that sent them spiraling in the East. Fans are frustrated, the locker room looks shaken, and for the first time in years, “Heat Culture” feels like an empty phrase.

So, how does Butler feel about all of it? He’s not losing sleep over it. “I got nothing to say to nobody. No hard feelings. I’m in a better place now for me.” Does he care if the Heat play a tribute video for him? “If they don’t, it makes no difference. It really don’t.” If anything, he’s tired of the same old narrative. “I’m always painted as the bad guy. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve always been the problem. Let everybody think that this is what happened, and we’ll ride with it. Then in like a year’s time, it’s going to be somebody else’s fault besides myself.”

For Miami fans, this game is personal. For Butler? It’s just another stop on the Warriors’ journey to the playoffs.

That said, it’s not just about Butler vs. the Heat. Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson, the two key pieces Miami got in return for Butler, will also be facing their former team for the first time. Warriors star Draymond Green knows that adds another layer of intensity.

“We got Jimmy over here. I know this is a big game for him. They got Wiggs over there. I know it’s a huge game for him. We want to win for Jimmy, they’re going to want to win for Wiggs. We got to come out ready to play.”

Butler, though, is keeping things simple. “Another game for me, another game that we’re expected to win for sure.”

Maybe for him, this is just business as usual. But for the rest of us? It’s must-watch TV.