Jimmy Butler's soap opera will create new episodes in the Bay Area after he successfully found a way out of Miami and secured a spot alongside Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors. The dynamic postseason performer was introduced by his new team on Thursday in an event that featured the traditional "hold up your new jersey and smile" photo-op.
Butler, who wore No. 22 with the Heat, revealed that he opted for a new number. After wearing Nos. 21 and 23 in previous stops with Minnesota, Chicago and Philadelphia, is going low with No. 10. And he has a very specific reason for doing so.
Jimmy Butler said he picked #10 because soccer star Neymar pic.twitter.com/ISQxeL8hfT
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 7, 2025
The homage to the Brazilian soccer star comes as Neymar, currently a member of Santos FC, explores an MLS future with three teams, including Miami FC. Of course, the No. 10 is most associated in the soccer world with the sport's best player, Lionel Messi, who sports the digits in South Beach.
Butler is hitting the ground in Golden State running, wasting no time vowing that a championship is coming soon and unveiling a revolutionary new strategy that consists of feeding Stephen Curry the basketball and getting the heck out of the way.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Jimmy Butler's New Jersey Number With Warriors Is Tribute to a Soccer Great.
