12 People who turned their backs on the Philadelphia 76ers

6. Jimmy Butler

Butler played just 55 regular season games with the 76ers. They gave up three role players and a second-round draft pick to acquire him in 2018. The All-Star wing forced his way out of Minnesota and was eager to chase a championship. The Sixers took the eventual champion Toronto Raptors to seven games in the second round and were one Kawhi Leonard buzzer-beater away from advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 2001.

Jimmy Buckets seemed like the perfect fit in Philly. He had a strong relationship with Joel Embiid and had the franchise in title contention. Butler became a free agent in 2019, and the Sixers signed-and-traded him to the Miami Heat.

Butler has not let the 76ers forget that they chose Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons over him. The Heat knocked out Philadelphia in the second round of the playoffs in 2022, and Jimmy Buckets let his former franchise hear it.

Butler has twice led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals and made two All-Star appearances since leaving the 76ers. It was a massive blunder by the franchise, and Butler won’t let them live it down. He has become one of the most feared weapons in the playoffs, and the Sixers are likely not done facing him.