Philadelphia 76ers: Should fans boo Jimmy Butler?

To fans of the Philadelphia 76ers: It ain’t that serious.

Oftentimes in the media, we tend to paint unserious issues in a very serious light. There are moments which require serious discussion about an important topic. Andrew Luck’s retirement is a prime example. But, more often than not, it ain’t that serious.

On Nov. 23, Jimmy Butler will return to the Wells Fargo Center in a Miami Heat uniform. Butler spent 55 regular season games in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform, averaging 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 46.1 percent shooting.

He’s good at basketball. There are conflicting reports on the Sixers’ desire to keep Butler, but in the end, keeping him was always the goal. When the Sixers pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade last November, the plan was to convince Jimmy to stay.

At some point, for some reason, things went south. Jimmy decided it was best to part ways and actually go south, joining the Heat — a moderately intriguing roster in a cool city. Good for him! He has every right to make that decision, just as the Sixers had every right to not offer Jimmy a five-year max if that was indeed the case.

We can debate what the Sixers should have offered Butler. We can debate whether or not Butler gave 110 percent in a Sixers uniform (P.S., he didn’t). But, when the history books are written, Butler’s Philadelphia tenure will remain a 55-game footnote in his illustrious career.

So, should fans boo Butler? That’s the question we’re now faced with. Mike Scott decided to further the dialogue, quote tweeting a NSFW message to the departed superstar.

When asked to explain his motives to a discontent Heat fan, Scott, in his typical poetic brilliance, penned another NSFW tweet. This time, the message was clear: lighten up, bro.

Breaking news: Mike Scott doesn’t hate Jimmy Butler because he changed teams. You can also boo Jimmy Butler, because it’s fun. It’s a sporting event. It’s a game. The dude left, you can boo. That’s all good.

Part of sports is investing in rivalries and repping a franchise. Butler, for whatever reason, no longer reps Philadelphia. The fans were going to boo Miami. They boo every team. Now they can jest a former friend-turned-foe.

Butler’s decision — whether he turned down a max or not — falls within his rights as an athlete. He’s a person who makes personal decisions. He doesn’t owe Philadelphia his loyalty. Especially after very prominent fans led a season-long anti-Butler campaign.

He’s in Miami. He will get boo’d, and that’s fine. Those boos, ideally, will come from a place of respect. Not a place of malicious intent. In the end, no one will actually know or care. It’s sports. And, in this scenario, it ain’t. that. serious. 

Follow in the footsteps of the venerable sir Mike Scott and boo that man. Have fun with it. Just don’t hold hate in your heart, friends.