Friday night was not the end, even with Jimmy Butler’s seven-game unpaid Miami Heat suspension drawing to a close. Instead, based on Butler’s postgame comments, as the Heat turned from Friday night’s loss to the Denver Nuggets to Sunday’s visit by the San Antonio Spurs,

Bernie Lee, Butler’s agent, posted a press release on X akin to Michael Jordan’s famous “I’m back” statement, which ended his first NBA retirement in 1995. Leaning into the Jordan theme — or troll — Butler posted photos on his Instagram story wearing the Jordan No. 45 Bulls uniform.

After seven games away from his team, Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler appears ready to return. Butler will start for the Heat Friday against the Denver Nuggets, according to a Friday afternoon report from veteran NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Though Butler is returning to the court as his team-issued seven-game suspension ends, his dispute with the Heat remains far from resolved.

Jimmy Butler is expected to play for Miami again Friday when it hosts the Denver Nuggets, a game that would be his first since the Heat confirmed that he wants a trade and that they are trying to accommodate that request.

Will Jimmy Butler make his Heat return on Friday against the Nuggets? Check back here for updates throughout the day

Butler publicly announced his displeasure with the Heat following a 128–115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 2, stating that he hasn't been playing with "joy" in Miami. He hasn't played since that night, as the Heat issued a seven-game suspension for Butler over conduct detrimental to the team.

The Heat's latest injury report could imply a Jimmy Butler return. Usually, the injury report for Miami listed Butler as inactive due to a “team suspension” where Jan. 17 had been circled on fan's calendars to see if he would be returning.

In the past, Riley has occasionally gotten into it with his superstars near the end of their Miami tenures. He had contract tensions with Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, which prompted Wade's stunning departure to his hometown Chicago Bulls in free agency during the summer of 2016.

After playing his first game since the seven-game suspension, Jimmy Butler refuses to comment on whether he has got his "joy" back

Back from his suspension, Jimmy Butler indicated there was no change to his relationship with the Heat following Friday's loss to the Nuggets, saying, "We are where we are."