Jimmy Butler ruled out of Heat opener for 'personal reasons'

Jimmy Butler ruled out of Heat opener for 'personal reasons'

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:22 p.m. ET

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler's debut for the Miami Heat will be delayed by a few days.

Butler was ruled out of Miami's season-opener against Memphis on Wednesday for what the team is calling "personal reasons."

Butler was with the team Wednesday morning for its game-day shootaround practice, and told the team that he wasn't going to be able to play around mid-afternoon.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says "everything's fine" and that there is no reason for concern over the Butler situation.

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Butler was the big offseason acquisition for the Heat this past summer, agreeing to a four-year deal in a sign-and-trade with Philadelphia.

Miami is also without guard Dion Waiters for the opener, while he serves a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

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