Jimmy Butler's tenure with the Golden State Warriors started off with quite the bang on Saturday night.
A few days after the disgruntled star forward was traded by the Miami Heat, Butler donned a Warriors uniform for the first time against the Chicago Bulls, complete with a nice nod to his father on the anniversary of his death. He recorded 25 points and four assists, and beyond the numers Butler was instrumental in helping the Warriors crawl out of a huge hole. Golden State fell behind by 24 points at one point to the Bulls in Chicago, but Steph Curry magic and Butler drawing a handful of timely fouls got the Dubs back in the game and then a win.
Speaking afterwards to assembled media Warriors head coach Steve Kerr offered a fierce three-word description of Butler after getting to coach him up close for the first time: "He's a lion."
"I'm most impressed with his passing," Kerr said, per ESPN. "His passing changes everything. ... The skill, the strength, the ability to get to the free throw line. And in the end, it goes beyond that. Just his presence out there.
"He's a lion. He's a force."
There are numerous Eastern Conference teams who would agree after Butler helped the Heat to a pair of NBA Finals appearances in five seasons. One has to be a lion to drag an eighth-seeded team to the championship round, as Butler did back in 2023.
The Warriors hope Butler can show more of that down the stretch of this season. He was acquired and given a massive extension to push Golden State deep into the playoffs as an ideal complement to Curry's various strengths. They're off to a good start, but the important games have yet to come.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Steve Kerr Had Fierce Three-Word Description of Jimmy Butler After Warriors Debut.
