Jimmy Butler has one thing he wishes he could change about his rocky split from the Miami Heat. And surprisingly, it’s not related to basketball at all.
“Only one,” Butler told reporters on Thursday at his Warriors introductory press conference. “I just opened my coffee shop in Miami and can’t go there anymore.”
Following a public dispute with the Heat and a tense trade situation with Golden State, Jimmy Butler decided to put his differences behind him. He inked a two-year extension with the Warriors, securing his place with the team until the 2026-27 season after being traded at the deadline.
On the hardwood, this deal pairs him with Golden State’s star, Steph Curry, who’s also committed to the Warriors through the same season.
Away from basketball, this move gives Butler the opportunity to expand his signature coffee shop to the West Coast.
“So, we’re going to have to figure out a way to get one in San [Francisco],” Butler quipped.
Jimmy Butler, who has been named an All-Star six times, took the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals on two occasions and reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times during his five-year tenure there.
However, this season has been tumultuous for Butler with the Heat, as he was suspended twice, the second time indefinitely, for breaking several team rules.
In the 25 games he played this year, Butler’s performance dipped to an average of 17 points per game, marking his lowest scoring since the 2013-14 season, alongside 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
A move to Golden State could rejuvenate both Butler’s career and the spirits of the Warriors’ fans, while also potentially expanding his coffee business westward.
Kerr disappointed by ‘obvious’ missed call in Warriors’ loss
There are moments when a missed call is so obvious that it’s beyond debate, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr expressed his strong feelings about an overlooked eight-second violation in the last minute of Golden State’s 120-112 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
“I saw an eight-second violation,” Kerr told reporters. “It was pretty obvious. So, very disappointing it wasn’t called.”
Draymond Green was visibly upset with the missed call, fervently arguing with the officials after the Warriors weren’t given the ball for what should have been a turnover. At that point, Golden State was only six points behind, with a good chance to turn the game around.
Although Kerr showed his frustration, he made it clear that the missed call wasn’t the sole reason for the Warriors’ defeat on Thursday.
“When you allow five home-run passes over the top with no defensive awareness for 10 points, you don’t deserve to win,” Kerr told reporters. “Loved our fight in the second half. Loved the way the guys competed. That’s the way it’s going to have to feel like the rest of the season. We got to bring that level of energy but we have to add the awareness and the feel of not giving up the easy stuff when it comes to transition, pick-six passes, fouling when they’re in the bonus. They shot 36 free throws tonight. Too many plays that gave them easy points and that was the difference in the game.”
The Warriors experienced their second consecutive loss on Thursday, slipping below a .500 record and falling to the 11th seed in the Western Conference.
Bringing in six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler might just be the jolt Golden State needs to push for a playoff spot as they grapple with significant team challenges.
Even with their own problems to solve, being on the receiving end of critical missed calls in tight games can be incredibly frustrating for seasoned NBA coaches and players alike, as evidenced by Thursday’s game.
