The Golden State Warriors have been on an impressive run over the past few weeks in the 2024-25 NBA season. They have won eight of their last ten games, which has helped them climb in the Western Conference standings. The arrival of Jimmy Butler has been instrumental in this success, elevating the performances of the team’s other stars, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Coach Steve Kerr recently reflected on this contribution.
“I love Jimmy’s fit here,” Kerr acknowledged during an interview shared by reporter Dalton Johnson on his X account. “He’s perfect next to Steph and Dray, and it’s showing. I think we’re 8-1 since we got him with him in the lineup. That’s not by accident.”
This praise for the former Miami Heat forward came after a 119-101 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, a win that allowed the Warriors to surpass the Los Angeles Clippers and move into the top six in the Western Conference, securing a potential playoff berth.
Despite these words, Kerr acknowledged that at times, Butler had not had the desired impact on the court. “I thought the first half it was catch and hold. Catch and hold. He wasn’t engaged, he wasn’t involved, and that’s on us as a team,” the coach said. “I think we can do a better job of getting him involved by not letting the ball stick early in possessions.”
Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrate after the game against the Chicago Bulls on February 08, 2025.
Kerr praises Butler’s contribution
In the same chat with reporters, Steve Kerr noted that fully integrating Jimmy Butler into the team’s system “is still a work in progress.” He elaborated, “We have to play with ball movement and flow and rhythm… He’s at his best when the ball is moving.”
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Finally, Kerr spoke about the impact Butler can have when everything is functioning properly: “If he can get it on the backside of a possession after it’s moved three or four times, he’s unstoppable on that drive, and he creates so much for his teammates.”
Butler’s numbers in Golden State
Since Jimmy Butler’s arrival to the Golden State Warriors just a month ago, he has quickly adapted to the team’s style of play, contributing to their significant improvement over the course of the 2024-25 NBA season.
This improvement is reflected not only in the Warriors’ results but also in Butler’s individual performance. In his nine games with Golden State, Butler has averaged 30.1 minutes on the court, posting 16.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds.
