Jimmy Butler, left, displays his caller Golden State Warriors jersey alongside wide manager Mike Dunleavy astatine Crypto.com Arena successful Los Angeles connected Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo)
Jimmy Butler completed his protracted breakup with the Miami Heat aft securing a commercialized distant from the Miami franchise to the Golden State Warriors wherever helium volition nexus up with Steph Curry arsenic helium chases archetypal NBA rubric of career.
“I would similar to accidental that I americium a winner. I haven’t won ‘it’ but I would similar to telephone myself a winner. I bash privation to triumph ‘it’ — it being a championship,” Butler said precocious past nighttime aft helium was introduced by the Warriors earlier their crippled astatine the Los Angeles Lakers connected Thursday night.
Butler forced his mode retired of Heat, by repeatedly confronting the franchise management. Before being traded close earlier the Trade Deadline, Butler earned himself 3 suspensions successful January. He was besides criticized by Heat president Pat Riley aft past season.
“I don’t got excessively galore atrocious things to accidental astir them,” Butler said striking a uncommon reconciliatory tone. “I don’t. They gave maine opportunity. I felt similar I did my occupation to the highest level. I person truthful overmuch respect for that organization, for the radical that’s moving that enactment and for my erstwhile teammates. And I’m ever going to privation them the best. … I’ve got a batch of emotion for a batch of radical implicit determination successful that organization.”
“I cognize I person my joyousness backmost now,” Butler said connected Thursday.
The defender leaves the Heat arsenic their regular-season person with 13 triple-doubles, and is eighth connected the team’s lists of points, rebounds and assists. This explains wherefore Warriors gave up truthful overmuch for Butler: the Heat were sent Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first-round draught pick. Not to notation the further $113 cardinal the franchise volition wage Butler implicit the adjacent 2 seasons.
“This is ne'er an casual clip of twelvemonth erstwhile you person to bash immoderate of this worldly and marque immoderate of these moves,” Warriors wide manager Mike Dunleavy said, with Butler — his erstwhile Chicago teammate — seated to his right. “But we’re successful the concern of winning and we made an acquisition of a feline sitting adjacent to maine who’s 1 of the champion successful the league, an elite two-way subordinate and we’re thrilled to person him successful the fold.”
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