The Golden State Warriors were in search of a superstar to strengthen their championship chances alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Desperately needing a No. 2 scorer to complement Curry, the Warriors landed Jimmy Butler as the answer.
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The former Miami Heat standout wasted no time making an impact. Since Butler’s arrival, the Warriors have gone an impressive 12-1, climbing to 6th place in the Western Conference standings and positioning themselves for a direct playoff berth.
When the trade was finalized, some skeptics questioned how Butler would mesh with Curry and Green. However, Butler quickly silenced those doubts, fitting seamlessly into the team’s system and reviving the Warriors’ championship aspirations. Butler himself was never in doubt, especially after Curry and Green reached out to him following the trade.
“I talked to both [Curry and Green], but I’ve talked to both of them for a while,” Butler said in an interview with Andscape. “But they said, ‘We can do something special. We need what you bring. The winning mentality, the hard nose on both sides of the ball.’ I think that’s what you want. That’s what they told me that I bring and I’m like, ‘Come on with it’”.
Jimmy Butler #10, Draymond Green #23 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors. (Stacy Revere /Getty Images)
“I saw a group that wanted me to be a part of it,” Butler continued. “That’s all you ever wanted to be is wanted in this life, not just in this league. In anything, you want to be wanted. Needed is like a necessity. Wanted is like somebody’s choosing to bring you aboard this. I think that’s the ultimate sign of respect”.
Curry addresses the buzz before Butler joined the Warriors
Following Butler’s tumultuous departure from the Heat, uncertainty surrounded the six-time All-Star’s future. Amid the noise, even Curry found it challenging to separate fact from fiction. However, the two-time NBA MVP had no reservations about Butler’s personality or fit with the team once the trade became a reality.
“There’s noise everywhere. I hear everything. I try to filter through everything to know what’s real and what’s not,” Curry told 95.7 The Game. “I talked to Draymond [Green], I talked to [Warriors general manager] Mike Dunleavy, who was [Butler’s] veteran [with the Chicago Bulls] back in the day, and they spoke so highly of who Jimmy was”.
Butler thriving in his new role with the Warriors
Butler’s departure from the Heat, which included time away from the court due to multiple suspensions, could have disrupted his momentum. Instead, the transition has rejuvenated the veteran, and Butler couldn’t be happier in his new role with the Warriors.
“I’m here now. The organization is great, the guys are great, winning is great and we do any and everything that it takes to win here,” Butler shared. “So that’s what makes my mental so great. We’re winning again. I love the spirit that surrounds. I do”.
