Shaquille O’Neal explodes over Jimmy Butler contract situation compared to Michael Jordan $2.3 million salary year

Shaquille O'Neal believes Jimmy Butler is displaying normal human behavior with his downtrodden reaction in Miami Heat stalemate.

Shaquille O’Neal explodes over Jimmy Butler contract situation compared to Michael Jordan $2.3 million salary year

Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler and NBA legend Michael Jordan

The Jimmy Butler – Miami Heat stalemate is reaching a stage where it is becoming difficult to stay out of the spotlight. He wants to leave via trade as Pat Riley has made it clear that he won’t give him another high paying contract.

The stalemate saw him earn his second suspension after he missed the team’s flight. This situation keeps getting worse until a team comes in to take him away. Riley and Butler’s agent are trying, but it is hard to move an aging superstar who wants another $50 million contract.

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The crew of Inside the NBA have experience dealing with such situations. Shaquille O’Neal started off by suggesting that just because the Miami Heat are not willing to give him an extension, Jimmy Butler’s human nature kicks in where he does not want to play.

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But his colleague’s reminded him that Butler is under contract this season and next. Therefore, technically he is obligated to play as per the terms of his contract. When O’Neal was not ready to take that suggestion, Kenny Smith said this:

Michael Jordan played for $2.3 million and then said, ‘I signed the contract and I’m going to play’. Jimmy could ask for more, but he still has an obligation to show up.

Kenny Smith said
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Smith was joined by Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson who suggested that Jimmy Butler is under contract. More importantly, he owes it to the fans, his teammates and to himself to go out and play. But Butler has been noticeably distant and disinterested during games.

Shaquille O’Neal believes Jimmy Butler is protecting himself

It was Shaquille O’Neal who started off with the logic that Jimmy Butler is not feeling like playing. He then cited the All-Star game where stars do not play at their limits. But then Smith replied that that is because no one has an obligation to play hard, but in this case he has to. To this, with a raised voice O’Neal said.

There’s one reason they don’t go all out in the All-Star game, cause they don’t want to get hurt. So again, if I’m not winning a championship at 35, there’s another team that is willing to give him the extension. Y’all keep talking about 1 and 2, what about 3, 4, 5 and 6?

Shaquille O’Neal said

To this Charles Barkley added that there is no way a player aged 35 and in decline will get another contract. Not especially at the $50 million Jimmy Butler is expecting. He cited Klay Thompson‘s situation with the Warriors this past offseason as an example.

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But O’Neal believes the six-time All-Star is reacting as per human nature. He does not believe he is declining and wants a long-term contract which can give him stability. The Heat won’t bow to this reaction from their superstar, but maybe another team could.