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Jimmy Butler has been exactly as advertised with Warriors

Matt Hanifan / NBA / February 23, 2025

Jimmy Butler has been exactly as advertised with Warriors

While most of my questions for the Golden State Warriors rested on the long-term benefit of acquiring Jimmy Butler, there were still questions about his overall fit with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the organization. After having barely played in a month due to myriad suspensions, he’d be operating in a completely unfamiliar system tailored on pace, screening and constant player movement–the antithesis of Butler’s playing style despite being one of the most efficient offensive players in recent memory.

Yet, while we’re still operating with a microscopic five-game sample, the fit has been seamless. You can see the tangible value the 35-year-old has immediately provided on both ends of the court.

Heading into the All-Star break, the Warriors were struggling to find their way offensively outside of Stephen Curry because they lacked the reputable shot creation while failing to generate consistent-enough rim pressure. They were No. 19 in offense, No. 23 in paint points per 100 possessions and No. 27 in free throw attempts per 100.

Enter Butler, who, when engaged and healthy, is a remarkably efficient two-way wing.

Since his infusion into the lineup, the Warriors are No. 6, 15 and 5 in those aforementioned statistics, respectively. Butler has his finger prints all over it, too. In those five games, he’s averaging 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.6 steals on 45.5 percent shooting, but he’s generated 10.5 free throws per 75 that he’s converting at an 87.2 percent clip.

When he shares the floor with at least one of Green or Curry, the Warriors are generating an offensive rating of 122.2 (!!!), which is remarkably efficient despite the small sample size. Steve Kerr has effectively deployed Butler in all of the non-garbage-time possessions without Curry–giving Golden State not only the scoring threat they lacked, but another playmaker to help connect the chess pieces.

Butler is a very smart and instinctive basketball player defensively as well, where he’s a hound in the passing lanes and sturdy enough to hold his own against multiple high-level primary creators when he’s tasked to. Just watch this possession against Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.

JIMMY BUTLER III IS A ONE-MAN WRECKING CREW 🔒🔒

He guards everyone on this possession to force the shot-clock violation! pic.twitter.com/DdQE9RexnX
— NBA (@NBA) February 22, 2025

When he’s engaged, that’s what he’s capable of offering Golden State in addition to what he can offer as a shot creator offensively.

We knew we were going to see a hyper-motivated, healthy Butler after the most toxic six-month stretch of his career for a multitude of reasons. It remains to be seen if Draymond Green‘s bold shot will be right, but as of right now, the Warriors could be viewed as a feisty out in the Western Conference if they were able to squeak into a playoff spot because of Butler, Green and Curry’s pedigree.