Heat's Jimmy Butler to start, says of future plans, 'I'm back' - ESPN

MIAMI — With his seven-game suspension over, Heat star Jimmy Butler was back in the starting lineup for Friday night's home game against the Denver Nuggets.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra announced Butler's return during his pregame media session, saying that the lineup of Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson «gives us the best chance tonight.»

Earlier Friday, Butler channeled Michael Jordan's famous statement ahead of his return to the NBA in 1995, tweeting through his agent, Bernie Lee, «I'm back.» Butler also posted several pictures of himself on his Instagram story wearing Jordan's No. 45 jersey, which the Bulls legend wore during his return to the court.

Butler, who was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, showed up for the Heat's pregame walkthrough late Friday afternoon at Kaseya Center, sources told ESPN.

At his pregame session with reporters Friday, Spoelstra opened with a statement of more than a minute explaining the state of Butler's situation and repeatedly asked for only basketball questions.

«We work in a league of complexity,» Spoelstra said. «We're in an unusual place right now, but really all it is is complex, and we fully plan on operating within this complexity. It's my job to prepare this team and get it ready to play at a high level, and that's what I'm doing. That's what the plan is. My methods for doing it are really none of your business. You're all looking for drama, I'm looking for getting this team ready to play at a high level.

»And as far as silly questions like, 'What is the temperature of the room' or 'how is everybody feeling,' that just sounds so dramatic. We're professionals, we're fine, we're ready for tonight's game, and that's the only thing