The intensity between Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul was palpable once again as they reignited a rivalry that dates back to the NBA bubble in 2020. During Tuesday’s preseason game between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, the two veterans exchanged heated words in a moment that quickly reminded fans of their prior clash.
The tension began in the second quarter when Paul, now with the Spurs, found himself mismatched while guarding Heat forward Nikola Jovic and pushed him to the ground. Butler, never one to back down, responded by barging into the 175-pound guard on the very next play. The two then faced off, exchanging a few choice words before Butler gestured at Paul to pay attention, a move that had fans buzzing.
For those wondering about the origins of their friction, fans were quick to remind others of the infamous 2020 bubble incident. Back then, Paul, representing the OKC Thunder, fired the ball aggressively at Miami’s Duncan Robinson to force an out-of-bounds call. Butler retaliated by charging Paul on the next play, setting the tone for a simmering rivalry.
As these two continue to battle it out, even in preseason, the competitive fire between them shows no signs of cooling down—leaving fans to wonder what sparks the regular season might bring.
