P.J. Tucker has left Jimmy Butler feeling salty. The 37-year-old is leaving the Miami Heat for the Philadelphia 76ers. This has left the Heat guard for dead in Miami. In fact, Butler targeted Tucker and ex-teammate Joel Embiid under Tucker’s farewell Instagram post. P.J. was a valuable member of the squad and helped Miami get into the Eastern Conference Finals.
They eventually lost to the title runner-ups the Boston Celtics. The biggest irony of all is that the Philadelphia 76ers used to be Butler’s former team. He left Philadelphia in 2019 after spending one year there. It was not a smooth breakup for the shooting guard.
Nonetheless, Tucker’s contributions won’t be forgotten. He has been a great bench player throughout his career.
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He played almost 28 minutes per game for the Miami Heat and averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Tucker had a 48.4% field goal percentage and was a dependable presence as a veteran on the team.
In his farewell Instagram post, he said, “What a year… True underdogs that got it out of the mud and went against all odds. Miami you will forever be my home and heat nation I can?t thank you guys enough for the love you?ve shown all year. Though our journey together has come to an end the love will forever remain the same.”
He won the NBA title for the first time last year with the Milwaukee Bucks as a bench player. Tucker is now going to play for a team with which Butler has a very acrimonious relationship.
Jimmy Butler had a good run with the 76ers
Jimmy Butler was with the Philadelphia 76ers from 2018 to 2019. He has been very vocal against them since being traded to the Heat. Butler eliminated the team in the 2022 NBA Playoffs and shouted out, “Tobias Harris over me?? after the game. He scored 18.2 points per game during the regular season in 2018-19. Butler’s postseason performances were even better.
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Jimmy Butler scored 19.4 points per game at 45.1% Field Goal Percentage. He was electric against the Toronto Raptors in the second round. Butler scored 30 points and had 11 rebounds in Game 2 of the playoff semi-finals. The 76ers defeated the Raptors 94-89 to even the series at 1-1. ?He scored 25 points to a 112-101 victory in Game 6 to help the 76ers tie the series again 3-3 with the Raptors. Butler scored 16 points in Game 7 but Philadelphia still lost 92-90.
After this, Butler’s tensions with then-coach Brett Brown came to the surface. He later left the franchise as they chose the coach over him.
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Is Butler right to be so salty against the 76ers? Discuss in the comments below.