Jimmy Butler wasted no time making an impact with his new team, scoring 25 points in his debut for the Golden State Warriors. The six-time All-Star started for the Warriors on Saturday night and helped lead his team to a commanding 132-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
Butler shot 7-of-12 from the field and was nearly automatic from the free-throw line, making 11 of 13 attempts. He also contributed four assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block, proving that he is ready to embrace his new role alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Curry, as always, was electric, finishing the game with 34 points, including a jaw-dropping 24-point explosion in the third quarter. The Warriors erased a massive 24-point deficit, going on an incredible 67-18 run that completely turned the game around.
A new era for the Warriors
Butler’s arrival in Golden State marks the end of a dramatic chapter with the Miami Heat, where tensions between the star forward and the franchise led to his indefinite suspension. At 35 years old, Butler is now joining forces with Curry and Green, both four-time NBA champions, as the Warriors look to make one more title push before the window closes on their dynasty.
His immediate chemistry with Curry was evident in their first game together, leaving many in the Western Conference on high alert. If Butler seamlessly fits into the Warriors‘ system, Golden State could quickly reemerge as a legitimate championship contender.
His immediate chemistry with Curry was evident in their first game together, leaving many in the Western Conference on high alert. Butler himself acknowledged how seamlessly their styles fit, saying, “Opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa. They’re not leaving him ever. Maybe two people… I get the easy job. I’m playing 1-on-1 or in space.”
Chicago’s Coby White led the Bulls with 27 points, but the night belonged to Butler and the Warriors, who made a loud statement with their new-look squad.
One thing is clear: Butler may have left Miami under difficult circumstances, but he has landed in Golden State with a purpose,and the rest of the NBA should take notice.