While the preseason is over, many moments made this one more memorable than the previous years. One such fiery incident occurred on Tuesday night during the Heat vs. Spurs game when veterans Jimmy Butler and Chris Paul got into a verbal altercation after things got chippy on the court. Sure enough, it gave the fans flashbacks of their heated encounter inside the Bubble, from when CP3 was still at OKC. Although everyone witnessed them jawing at each other, it wasn’t clear what was being said. Until now!

A leaked audio of Butler and Paul’s confrontation, via @legendz_nba on X, reveals the trash talk between the two. After Jimmy Buckets bumped into the point guard, making him lose his balance, a foul was called and CP3 can be heard saying, “I got 20 years in this s–t.”

Obviously, Chris Paul was referring to his longevity as he will complete two decades in the NBA this season. During that time, the hooper has been a part of every possible situation on the court, including such confrontations. However, Butler couldn’t care less about any longevity and replied, “Yeah, that’s cool. I don’t give a f–k how many years you got. I don’t give a f–k.”

Miami’s household name even got the Kaseya Center crowd into it, as he looked at the fans and continued taunting Chris Paul by making a face that has now turned into a meme! “I ain’t hearing that s–t,” the Heat star remarked.

Sure enough, tensions had been building up between them since tip-off. Earlier in the game, Chris Paul had hit Nikola Jovic with a hard foul during a post-up play, which led to the forward falling on the floor. And while Jovic was shooting the free throws, Butler approached CP, likely ‘calling him out’ for the controversial play.

After the game, the Spurs guard was asked about his altercation with Jimmy Butler, and he replied, “It’s the NBA. Ain’t nobody doing nothing.” Obviously, this is not the first time these two have butted heads.

Jimmy Butler-Chris Paul NBA beef origins

If you are aware of the history between Butler and Paul, then their recent altercation should not come as a big surprise. Four years ago, when the tail end of the season was being conducted inside The Bubble because of the pandemic and CP3 was still on the OKC Thunder squad, he had a similar encounter with Jimmy. During a game, Paul was fighting for the ball with Duncan Robinson and although he got possession of the ball, he jumped and threw the ball hard at the sharpshooter’s back, sending it out of bounds.

As expected, Jimmy Butler was not pleased with Chris Paul’s actions, and later in the game, he gave a hard bump to the veteran point guard during a play, sending him to the floor. While the referee blew the whistle for a foul, the Heat star nonchalantly walked back to his side of the floor. And Jimmy being Jimmy, showed no remorse for his actions after the game.

“I don’t care. I don’t need friends here in the bubble.” Sure enough, when they are on the court, it is all about winning for these two experienced stars and that could occasionally lead to such altercations, and in their case, a lengthy rivalry.

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