Jimmy Butler might not have suited up for the Golden State Warriors in their crucial Game 3 win over the Houston Rockets, but he still found a way to make headlines afterward, mostly at the expense of Buddy Hield. As the Warriors celebrated a 104-93 victory at Chase Center to take a 2-1 lead in the series, Butler posted a cheeky Instagram story shouting out the team:
“Thanks Batman and Team, excluding Buddy.”
Jimmy’s IG post after tonight’s win 😂
(Wait for the caption 👀)
[via @jimmybutler/IG] pic.twitter.com/ULn3Abx963
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 27, 2025
It was vintage Jimmy, part support, part trolling. The “Batman” he referred to was clearly Stephen Curry, who erupted for 36 points to carry Golden State without Butler’s scoring punch. As for Buddy Hield, well, Butler made sure the world knew he was still in the doghouse.
The tension between Butler and Hield was already brewing before this. During the game, Butler, even while sidelined, was seen barking at Buddy from the bench, telling him, “Don’t dribble!” It was not the first time, either, Butler had been warning Hield about over-dribbling for weeks.
Hield, for his part, took the ribbing in stride. Speaking to reporters afterward, he joked about the dynamic with Butler: “I know Robin was out tonight, so I had to step up…” The “Robin” quip was a clear nod to Jimmy’s Batman persona, but also a bit of payback for the Instagram jab.
When asked what it’s like to have Butler coaching from the sidelines, Hield could not resist throwing more playful shade:
“Terrible. Terrible advice. I just tune him out the whole time. Nah, he’s been good, he’s been positive, he’s telling me how to read drives, except that one time I got picked by Steven Adams. He’s giving me that look, and I was like, ‘Don’t even talk about it.'”
“He’s been good, he’s talking, encouraging everybody, especially when Draymond [Green] got a tech, he was letting everybody know that was good for our team.”
Buddy and Jimmy are perfect frenemies 🤣 pic.twitter.com/xBhJXYyuqI
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 27, 2025
Butler’s influence, even from the sidelines, was undeniable. His voice was constantly heard hyping up teammates, especially when Draymond Green’s emotional fire boiled over into a technical foul, a moment Butler celebrated as a momentum shift for the Warriors.
Meanwhile, Hield actually played a solid game despite the jokes, finishing with 17 points off the bench, knocking down five three-pointers and adding three steals. Still, it was clear that Jimmy wasn’t about to let Buddy’s performance distract from their ongoing playful feud.
Butler’s presence loomed large in other ways, too. Even in a fur coat and street clothes, he acted as a second coach, keeping the Warriors’ intensity high throughout the game. It speaks volumes about the culture Golden State has built, with Butler embracing his role as both leader and motivator while he recovers from injury.
The Warriors now hope Butler will be back soon to rejoin the action, but if not, they know they can count on him to keep spirits high and to keep trolling Buddy Hield every step of the way.
The brotherhood might involve plenty of jokes, but underneath it all, Butler’s faith in his team shines clear, even if he’s not letting Buddy off the hook just yet.
