American tennis sensation and world No. 4 Coco Gauff is best known for being a longtime Miami Heat fan. The South Florida native has already revealed her love for the franchise, even taking inspiration from the 2023 race during her French Open win the same year.
So when Jimmy Buttler got the chance to meet the 21-year-old once again, he wasted no time in advocating for a change in the alliance.
“By the way, your team hurt me [Jimmy Butler]By the way. The heat hurt me. Yes, the heat hurt me. Change alliance. And remember, Steph [Curry] Now he's on my team, so everyone loves Steph.
From Jimmy Butler to Coco Gough
(via @bnpparibasopen)
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 9 March 2026
“By the way, your team hurt me [Jimmy Butler]By the way. The heat hurt me. “Yeah, the heat hurt me,” he initially said, according to a clip on X by ClutchPoints. In response, Goff wanted to know what the Heat did.
Butler apparently left Miami in early 2025 after a lengthy dispute with the franchise that resulted in multiple suspensions. He cited Stephen Curry and immediately urged Goff to switch his alliance to the Warriors.
"So I just want to say, great, switch alliances. And remember, Steph [Curry] Now he's on my team, so everybody loves Steph,'' he said. Goff claimed she 'knew' the Heat hurt Butler, and claimed she regretted how things ended with the franchise.
"No, I can't do that. I love Steph," she said, which could be true for every basketball fan.
However, this was enough for Butler. He shouted and quickly turned towards the camera.
"Coco is a Warriors fan. Coco loves the Warriors. You all heard it. Coco is a Warriors fan. Clip it seriously, let's go viral," he told the gathered reporters.
Of course, like a true pro, Gough had no intention of changing his team. Following her historic 2023 French Open final win, Gauff also referenced Butler's time on the Heat, claiming that if the six-time All-Star wasn't nervous after being blown away by the Boston Celtics for a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals, she "couldn't have been nervous after losing the first set."
Gough even said that as a fan she was "a little sad" after Butler's exit, but claimed that she would still be rooting for him to succeed.
