That meant letting Butler, who was 30 at the time, color outside the lines that had long defined “Heat Culture.” They hired his trainer, Armando Rivas, onto the staff — a common practice for other superstars on other teams but not for the Heat. He skipped team Christmas parties and trolled the NBA media with eclectic hair styles at media days. He was allowed to fly privately or stay at a different location than the team on road trips. During the 2023 Finals, sources said, he stayed some 30 miles away at a mansion in Boulder, Colorado, while the team stayed in downtown Denver. “That is not common at all,” one Western Conference GM said. “A superstar might stay at a different hotel but not at a mansion 30 miles away.” -via ESPN / January 17, 2025
