MIAMI — In these days of social correctness, the phrase “spare the rod and spoil the child” probably has moved on from the vernacular.

But the concept assuredly remains in play. And for more than kid stuff.

That, in many ways is how the Miami Heat got here, to this point of no return with now-suspended Jimmy Butler.

Without ground rules, how does one expect one to adhere to rules?

For all of the old-school bluster about Pat Riley and his touchstone values, it was different from the start with Jimmy Butler, whose arrival came as a player who played by his own rules.

As in Butler v. Derrick Rose with the Bulls.

As in Butler v. Timberwolves and exit stage left to the Rachel Nichols ESPN interview.

As in hardly the best of terms with Brett Brown and Brown’s 76ers coaching staff.

With such drama also, in many ways, how Riley has stocked the best of his Heat rosters.

Alonzo Mourning not happy with George Shinn and Hornets’ ownership? Come on down.

Tim Hardaway snippy with Rick Adelman and the Warriors’ coaching staff? Right this way, Tim.

Shaquille O’Neal at loggerheads with Kobe Bryant? An 18-wheeler welcome on Biscayne Boulevard.

Goran Dragic with a rare angry moment with Robert Sarver’s Suns? Enter the Dragon.

So, too it was with Butler in the 2019 offseason, when the Heat made the deal work in free agency because Butler and the Heat were determined to make it work, no matter the Butler baggage left behind at previous stops.

And the Heat knew very much what they were getting into.

His own personal trainer who also was alongside in Minnesota and Philadelphia.

His own workout partner on the staff who had been alongside with the 76ers.

An agent with free rein in the facility.

All of that little different from what LeBron James was afforded.

With LeBron leaving on his own terms, as well.

For the past few days, and certainly with Friday night’s seven-game suspension without pay, the Heat have acted like a team drawing a line.

Laudable.

But also too late.

When it comes to much of what the Heat likely cited in their paperwork to the league office about “conduct detrimental to the team,” there for years had been tacit acceptance of much of the same.

Jimmy Butler largely came and went as he saw fit. Like several star players, he had his own accommodations and travel arrangements on the road. There was no hiding of that or from that, as Butler’s Instagram account chronicled.

His appearances at shootarounds were on his own timetable.

And when it came to the timing on his return from absences, again on his schedule, with very public workout sessions either before road games or on the Heat’s practice court.

When there was winning, barely a word, even with the coaching staff and management more than aware of the perception from teammates.

Because that was the approach dating to success that started in Butler’s first Heat season, that march to the NBA Finals in 2020 in the Disney pandemic bubble, Butler draped to exhaustion alongside a sidelined barrier.

Another Finals appearance would come in 2023, with Butler driving a short-handed roster.

All told, during his five seasons leading into this abbreviated run, three visits to the Eastern Conference championships.

And when the going wasn’t good, when there was disappointment from Butler about the roster composition, an $85 million contract was written to bring close friend Kyle Lowry, a godparent to Butler’s daughter, aboard in 2021.

Because all Jimmy Butler ever wanted was more.

Something the Heat gave to him over and over and over.

… and then he wanted more in terms of a contract extension.

Suddenly, that’s when Pat Riley not only drew a line, but let Butler know it was a line drawn in quicksand, leading to a sinking feeling since last spring.

Which is how we got to this point of no return (and there will be no return, no matter the suspension listed as seven games).

Little that transpired over these past few days has been different than what has transpired in recent years. Missed games and indifferent games have long been part of the Butler package with the Heat.

An approach of which there was almost nothing but tacit approval from the coaching staff and management.

By letting Jimmy be Jimmy, the Heat sowed significant success.

But, ultimately, it proved to be a gluttony of unchecked freedom, leading to an expectation of everything and anything.

In the end, Jimmy Butler only wanted what he previously was afforded.

He wanted it all — an expectation fostered by the Heat.

In the end, such previous allowances ultimately torpedoed any viable Heat path forward.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, July 6, 2019-Jan. 2, 2025.

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