Butler remains vague on leaving 76ers: 'Obviously something happened'

Once again, Jimmy Butler was cryptic when speaking about his reason for leaving the Philadelphia 76ers to join the Miami Heat over the summer.

"Obviously, something happened," Butler told The Athletic's Michael Lee after Philadelphia's 113-86 rout of his Heat squad on Saturday. "We're not going to say what it was. We're not going to go into detail. We can't keep living on that. They can't. But I'm happy, man. It brings me joy, being around this group of guys (in Miami). I don't regret nothing, you feel me?"

Earlier this month, Butler alluded to a behind-the-scenes conflict in Philadelphia, where he spent two-thirds of last season following a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"Nobody knows what really went on in Philly and we're going to leave it that way," Butler said at the time.

The swingman was roundly booed at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday while shooting a subpar 4-of-13 for 11 points. Josh Richardson, who was sent from Miami to Philadelphia in the sign-and-trade that delivered Butler to the Heat, scored a game-high 32 points.

"I didn't do too much wrong by the fan base here," Butler added Saturday. "Nobody knows what really went on, besides the organization and myself. My agent. And my people. I don’t know how to take it. They're die-hard fans. I’m not here no more. I'm the enemy."

One reason for leaving that can apparently be ruled out is any tension between Butler and Joel Embiid. Butler hugged the Sixers center after Saturday's game and said in October that he had nothing but respect for him.