The Golden State Warriors have come a long way this season after spending weeks near the bottom of the West standings. The arrival of Jimmy Butler had a lot to do with the team’s recovery, and team owner Joe Lacob has no regrets over how it went down.
“Sometimes you get them right,” he told The Athletic. “That’s all I can say.”
According to Lacob, there were some initial concerns about how Butler would fit in the organization, and he acknowledges that there were risks involved. Still, he says that Jimmy has been worth every penny.
“Yeah, there were (concerns about Butler),” Lacob said. “But you do your analysis, you make your choices, and, yeah, it was a little bit of a risk. But we’ve got to take risks in this life. And he’s worth every freaking penny. That’s all I can say. He’s fantastic.”
Butler, 35, did not have an easy path to the Warriors. Drafted 30th overall in 2011, Jimmy had to work his way into the spotlight, and he earned a lot of respect across the league. For the past 13 years, he’s played for various teams with mixed results, starting with the Chicago Bulls. After leaving that franchise, Butler endured stints with the Timberwolves, 76ers, and Heat, where he initially enjoyed a warm reception before outstaying his welcome.
In almost all of his previous stops, Butler made powerful enemies within the organization that led to ugly breakups. During his final days with the Heat in the 2024-25 season, Butler was suspended from action due to his refusal to attend team events or give any effort during games. They ended up trading him to the Warriors that summer, and it’s where he’s been ever since.
So far, in 30 regular-season games and seven playoff games, Butler has been a miracle for the Warriors both on and off the court. From February through April, he averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 47.6% shooting.
Butler’s ability to get to the line, create his own shots, and make plays defensively has opened up a new world of opportunities for the Warriors, and they’ve been thriving under his lead with a 23-7 record since his arrival.
With another star to help ease the pressure, Stephen Curry has found a nice rhythm in the playoffs, and he was going off in round one with averages of 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Even before seeing the results, the Warriors believed in Butler, and that’s why they signed him to a lucrative two-year, $121 million contract extension that runs through the 2026-27 season. For better or worse, the Warriors are tied down to Butler, and he could be what makes or breaks the final years of the Stephen Curry era.
For now, with a brand new playoff series on the way, Butler and company are only focused on one task: taking Game 1 and stealing home-court advantage. If they can find out how to contain Anthony Edwards and maximize their own offensive game, it will go a long way toward making an early statement and validating the commitment to Butler.
