Jimmy Butler Says Heat Offered Him No. 23 Despite Being Retired for Michael Jordan | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

By Editor On May 15, 2023

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MIAMI, FL - MAY 12: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference semi-finals on May 12, 2023 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

If he had accepted a simple offer, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler may have been sporting the No. 23 with the franchise.

Butler has donned the number made famous by Michael Jordan twice in his NBA career, but he currently sports the No. 22 with the Miami Heat. This is because the franchise retired the number in honor of Jordan in 2003. However, Butler said that Heat president Pat Riley did give him the option.

LD21 @louisdrew21

Jimmy butler has revealed that Pat Riley would allow him to use his dads retired jersey number but he decided to use 22 instead <a href=”https://t.co/USnEpu6vis”>pic.twitter.com/USnEpu6vis</a>

The Heat made history when they retired Jordan’s jersey number, as it was the first time a team had retired a player’s number who hadn’t ever played for the franchise. It has been done twice since, as the Dallas Mavericks retired late Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s jersey in 2020 and Bill Russell had his number retired league-wide in 2022.

Still, it makes sense that Riley and the Heat would be willing to break tradition for an impact star like Butler. The six-time All-Star has led the franchise to the conference finals in three of his four seasons and is widely considered to be one of the top talents in the league.

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