Jimmy Butler III’s return to Miami flexed to TNT

A little drama on the national stage.

In about a month, new Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler III will have what figures to be a dramatic reunion. On March 25, the Warriors visit the Miami Heat in the second game of a six-game road trip. It will be Butler’s first game back in Miami since a messy divorce between the two sides ended in a trade deadline blockbuster deal, with the Warriors getting Butler and the Heat adding Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10 protected first-round pick.

And now the drama will be on full display. The Tuesday night game, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT, has been flexed to TNT after initially being a regional broadcast only. It will serve as the first game in a doubleheader, followed by a Western Conference showdown between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Sacramento Kings.

Butler left Miami as one of the best players in franchise history. He joined the Heat in a sign-and-trade in the summer of 2019, and spent parts of six seasons with the organization, averaging 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. He was a two-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection with the Heat and, most importantly, carried two underdog teams to the NBA Finals.

But it all ended very messily. Butler entered this season with a player option for 2025-26, and was openly hoping for an extension. Miami was unwilling to commit to the extension, resulting in Butler asking for a trade. Team president Pat Riley publicly commented that the Heat would not trade Butler but, as the sides continued to butt heads, the star was suspended on three separate occasions. Miami finally relented and traded Butler the day before the deadline.

Needless to say, that should result in a slightly messy — or at least theatrical — return come late March. It will be interesting to see the reception Butler receives from his former teammates and coaches, as well as from Miami’s fanbase.

And now everyone can watch.