While speaking to reporters following Golden State’s 105-98 win over the Houston Rockets, long-time Warriors power forward Draymond Green lauded recently acquired small forward Jimmy Butler.
“He’s a franchise changer,” Green said after Golden State’s February 13th win. “He’s done that everywhere he’s gone, and he is helping revitalize what we got here. The belief amongst this team, now that he’s arrived, as opposed to what it was before he got here, it’s night and day… We let one get away last night, but this one tonight, we would’ve lost. But just having a guy like that changes everything for us. So after four games… the assessment [on Butler] is, it’s great.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is another person who has been singing Butler’s praises since he joined the team. Kerr, who played alongside Michael Jordan and has coached Stephen Curry for 11 years, said that Butler has been “fantastic.”
“Jimmy, he’s a real deal,” Kerr said. “I mean, just a complete basketball player, methodical, under control all the time, plays at his own pace, never turns it over, sees the game, and then can get to the line frequently. Great closer, not in the traditional sense where he’s going to be Kevin Durant and make four straight midrange jumpers, but it’s more of a complete game. Get to the line, make the right pass, get somebody else an open look, get a defensive stop, get a rebound. He’s a fantastic player.”
Unsurprisingly, Jimmy Butler isn’t concerned about his statistical output. He only cares about helping the Warriors return to their winning ways.
“We should be 4-0,” Butler said. “I am not going to lie to you. I have been sick to my stomach because of it since I got here. But we are going to figure it out. We are going to go streaking.”
Since completing the trade for Butler, the Golden State Warriors are 3-1 with wins over the Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. During that stretch, Butler is averaging 21.3 points, seven rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
Like the rest of the league, the Warriors are now on a break until the conclusion of the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend. Golden State will be off until February 21st when they return to action with a road game against the Sacramento Kings.
