Jimmy Butler has no regrets about his move from Miami to Golden State, despite reports that Phoenix was his preferred destination.
The only thing he does regret is Wednesday’s loss to a depleted Dallas Mavericks squad on February 12, which marked his first setback as a Warrior.
“We should be 4-0,” Butler told reporters after the Warriors beat his hometown team Houston Rockets 105-98 on Thursday, Feb. 13. “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.”
Butler had a costly turnover and an offensive foul in the final minutes, allowing the Mavericks to secure a 111-107 victory. Despite nearly recording a triple-double with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, those late-game mistakes weighed heavily on him.
Determined to bounce back, he redeemed himself the next night. With 2:01 remaining against the Rockets, he sank two clutch free throws, extending the Warriors’ lead to 11 points.
“We let one get away last night, but this one tonight, we would’ve lost,” Warriors forward Draymond Green told reporters. “But just having a guy like that changes everything for us. So after four games … the assessment [on Butler] is, it’s great.”
A revitalized Jimmy Butler has injected new energy into a struggling Golden State Warriors squad, helping them win three of their last four games with him in the lineup.
The Warriors improved to 28-27 heading into the All-Star break, holding a 1.5-game advantage over the 26-28 Suns for the final play-in spot.
In their latest victory, Butler contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, his aggressive inside play complementing Stephen Curry’s perimeter shooting and the team’s motion offense.
Butler has addressed a key weakness—inside scoring and free throws. Since his arrival, Golden State has surged from last (14.7) to third (22.7) in free throws made per game. Against the Rockets, he was flawless from the line, going 6-for-6.
“Jimmy, he’s a real deal,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters. “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.”
Butler has been a force at the free-throw line, sinking 34 of 40 attempts in just four games with the Warriors—an incredible average of 10 trips to the line per game.
Since joining Golden State, he has posted impressive numbers, averaging 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His arrival has provided the Warriors with a dependable second scoring option alongside Curry, who has also thrived with Butler on the court.
Curry has rediscovered his All-NBA form, putting up 31.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game since Butler’s debut.
What’s even more promising? Butler is still working his way into game shape, and their chemistry is only beginning to develop.
“We’re always just trying to continue to build chemistry — understand what he does well,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area after the win. “You can’t really rush him, and like the crazy thing is he’s still a little rusty. He would even tell you that. He’s trying to get back in game shape [after] he didn’t play consistently early in the season.
“So for him to get his legs underneath him and for us to understand what he does well — He dominates the paint, he usually makes the right play, he draws a crowd and a great passer — so if the game slows down, it’s another option to run our offense through to try to create good shots and not be so one-dimensional like we were.”
