The Jimmy Butler saga ended the way it began, in fireworks and shock across the NBA as after many turns, he ended up at the Golden State Warriors.
Warriors’ trade for Jimmy Butler was an all-in bet on their current veteran core, aimed at getting Steph Curry and Draymond Green in contention for another championship before they hang up their boots.
The Warriors fans got the first glimpse at Butler in action in their game against the Chicago Bulls which saw a massive turnaround.
A switch flipped for the Warriors, who were once trailing by 24 points in the third quarter then went on a 56-13 run powered by Butler and Curry to get home with a win.
After the game, Warriors fans had only one thing to say about Butler. He’d finally provided them with the one thing they longed for the most.
The raw stats tell their own story of Butler’s Warriors debut vs the Bulls, as he put up 25 points, four assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block in about 29 minutes.
His defensive chemistry with Green improved as the game went on and the latter had a field day passing to Butler who was cutting all over the place.
Curry benefitted from Butler relentlessly attacking the rim, with the opponents having to do a “pick your poison” game – to double Curry and leave Butler’s lane open or risk an avalanche of threes by Curry.
Ultimately, neither happened and 11 of Butler’s 25 points came via the free-throw line, where he went 11/13, the highest on the team.
A foul-baiter who can collapse defenses with his drives and keep the score ticking when heatwave scorers cool off is what this Warriors team had been missing for long.
Finally, Jimmy Butler provided it on his debut itself.
Butler’s Warriors trade was not universally liked because Andrew Wiggins had become an important part of the Warriors, both on and off the pitch.
Moreover, Butler’s reputation as a dressing room disruptor worked in stark contrast to Wiggins’ calm and unassuming manner of play.
However, Butler’s credentials speak for themselves and in his very first game for the Dubs, his ability to churn out FTs for himself stood out for a Warriors outfit that has never had that skill in all its dynasty.
“I am now of the opinion that drawing free throws is an ethical way of playing basketball,” joked one Warriors fan on Reddit.
“Warriors finally got their free throw merchant, it’s over for the league,” said another, as a third exclaimed, “Pretty sure Jimmy exceeded Steph’s career free throw total in this game!”
Even the Warriors’ official handle got in on the action with a stat of their own: “With 11 tonight, Jimmy Butler has the most free throws made in a Warriors debut.”
Another had no qualms in getting carried away: “BROOOOOOO I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON MY TEAM!”
“Watching Jimmy Butler get to the free throw line is absolutely beautiful man,” said a fifth and a sixth agreed, “We finally have someone who gets to the line.”
Never before have free throws been celebrated this much but this Warriors outfit was a team starved of them. As they say, they “finally” have that with Butler on the team.
