Asked whether he would fit alongside new teammates Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler kept his answer simple.
"Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy," Butler jokingly responded.
"Pass the ball to Steph and get out the way" 😂
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 7, 2025
— Jimmy Butler on how he's going to fit into the Warriors' play style 🤣
When you got the greatest shooter the game has ever seen on your team, why not make it complicated, right
For the first time in a while, Butler appeared in the public eye since the fallout of a near two-month saga with the Miami Heat as the Golden State Warriors introduced their newest member, Friday, February 7.
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— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 7, 2025
“I'm just so happy to be playing basketball again, honestly.All of that is behind me, moving forward. I'm happy to be wanted again," the 35-year-old said in the press conference.
"I'm so happy to be playing basketball again" 💙
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 7, 2025
Jimmy Butler on joining the Warriors
Playing in his fifth team in his career, Butler is joining a team synonymous to winning in the last decade.
More than ever, he is eager to chase the trophy that eluded him for the past 14 years.
“I would like to say that I am a winner,” Butler said. “I haven’t won ‘it’ but I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win ‘it’ — it being a championship,” Butler said.
"I will do my best to do what everybody wants and that's to win a championship."
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2025
Jimmy Butler is ready for his opportunity with the Warriors!
Butler also revealed will wear no. 10 for Golden State — paying homage to Brazilian soccer star Neymar.
“I'm glad that I get the opportunity to get here and help get us to winning and do something special. I think that's why I'm here and I will do my best to do what everybody wants, and that's to win a championship,” he added.
The beginning of the end of Butler's time in Miami came when he implied he had no more “joy” playing with the team which the Heat did not tolerate and suspended him for seven games and twice again.
[ALSO READ: Heat suspends Jimmy Butler for seven games, willing to 'listen to trade offers']
Despite the ugly end to his Heat career, Butler is grateful for the five and a half seasons he spent with the squad which he helped reach two NBA Finals in his tenure.
“They gave me an opportunity, I felt like I did my job to the highest level. I have so much respect for that organization, for the people that’s running that organization and for my former teammates. I’ll always wish them the best,” the season veteran spoke on the Heat.
He added: “I have a lot of love for a lot of people over there at that organization and I just want them to know I’m very grateful for the relationships that I have built and that I'll keep for a lifetime.”
Jimmy Butler on the Heat:
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) February 7, 2025
“I have a lot of love for a lot of people over there.
I just want them to know I’m very grateful for the relationships I’ve built and hope to keep for a lifetime.”
Pairing an elite two-way player in Butler to Curry and Green is the Warriors’ front office answer in hopes of turning their tumultuous season around.
“They’re always playing winning basketball. They'll do whatever it takes to win. They win on so many different levels. I think they can teach me a whole lot," the multiple-time All-Star said on having a chance to play along the Warrior greats.
"They'll do whatever it takes to win... I think they can teach me a whole lot."
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2025
- Jimmy Butler on getting to play alongside Steph & Draymond 🙌