The transformation of the Golden State Warriors since the arrival of Jimmy Butler has been evident in every aspect of the game, especially where it matters most – winning. Before Butler landed in the Bay, the Warriors were 10th in the West with a 25-26 record. Since his arrival, they are 16-4, the second-best record in the league during that span, tied with the Celtics and trailing only the Thunder. They now sit in sixth place in the conference with a 41-30 record. And the best part? We all know “Playoff Jimmy” is a thing, and no team wants to face him and Stephen Curry in the playoffs, especially with how well they’ve played in just 20 games together.
Jimmy Butler’s Highly Anticipated Return to Miami
Now comes what may be the most intriguing moment of the season for Butler – and possibly his career – his return to Miami. He played over 300 games with the Heat, and now he faces his former team in a sold-out Kaseya Center. Unlike Klay Thompson, whose return to the Chase Center was planned well in advance and marked on the calendar, this matchup is more unexpected. At the beginning of the season, few – if any – expected Butler to request a trade from Miami. But as the game has become more “Heat,” Butler has already shown where his loyalties now lie by offering Golden State Warriors employees a discount at his Miami coffee shop.
But let’s face it, if that “discount” still means paying $30 a cup, it feels more like a joke from Butler to his new teammates. Also, he just posted the Instagram story without any caption, and knowing him, it might just be a joke. Big Face Coffee was founded by Butler while the world was dealing with COVID-19 and the NBA was continuing its season inside the Disney bubble. The brand has now been around for over four years with the goal of being a premium coffee brand. And any business that has lasted that long and remained profitable is a testament to good management.
Butler’s Impact Goes Beyond Coffee Discounts
Coffee and jokes aside, Butler-who is known for being unserious about many things-has made a clear impact on the court. Since his arrival, the Warriors have the second-best defensive rating in the league, thanks to the pairing of two elite defenders with high basketball IQs, Draymond Green and Butler. On the offensive end, they rank ninth in offensive rating, but that actually reminds me that they resemble every single Warriors championship team where defense was the backbone, even if fans mainly focused on Curry’s shooting and handles. But their four tittles come from great offense and excellent defense.
We’ll see how Butler is received in his return, but he’ll almost certainly get a tribute. Outside of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, it’s hard to think of a player who has led the Heat better than Butler. In just over five seasons with Miami, he never won a title, but his impact on the franchise was undeniable. He led the Heat to two NBA Finals (2020, 2023) and three Conference Finals. Now, at age 35, he has one last chance to win a championship with the Warriors. It would be his first, but the fifth for Curry and Draymond – and no doubt that’s all they’re thinking about.
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