Part 2/8:
The crux of the dispute lies in Butler’s attitude and commitment to his team. After missing critical games against the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, Riley did not mince words during an end-of-season press conference, urging Butler to “keep [his] mouth shut” if he wasn’t actively contributing on the court. This outburst came amidst Butler’s series of questionable decisions, raising eyebrows across the league and among fans who expect professionalism from high-earning athletes.