Jimmy Butler III has significantly impacted the Golden State Warriors since his arrival. The trade for Butler, which sent Andrew Wiggins and Kyle Anderson to the Miami Heat, has worked wonders for the Warriors — but not so much for Miami.
The Warriors are 12-1 with Butler in the lineup, with their only loss coming against the Dallas Mavericks in a game where many questioned the officiating. With such a strong start, this trade has given the Warriors new life, and they’ve been praising Butler from day one.
Why Jimmy Butler Wanted to Be Traded From Miami Heat
Butler’s presence has been a major boost for the Warriors, but he didn’t feel as welcome during his final season with the Heat. Marc J. Spears explained why Butler sought a trade:
“Butler wanted to be traded because he felt the Heat were moving in a direction without him in mind, and he wanted to be more valued, sources said. The four-time NBA All-Star ended up asking for a trade from the Heat in his seventh season with the franchise.”
Jimmy Butler reportedly felt like the Miami Heat didn’t value him enough, per @MarcJSpears
“Butler wanted to be traded because he felt the Heat were moving in a direction without him in mind and he wanted to be more valued, sources said. The four-time NBA All-Star ended up… pic.twitter.com/Tp15S9Grn3
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 13, 2025
While Butler has been embraced in Golden State, things soured in Miami after a seven-season stint. The Heat and Butler endured a season of drama before the trade, and Golden State appears committed to Butler for the long haul.
Butler signed a two-year, $111 million extension with the Warriors and seems focused on making the most of his time in the Bay Area. Could this lead to a Butler and Stephen Curry-led championship for Golden State?
The Butler Effect for Golden State
Since joining the team, Butler has made a massive impact both in the locker room and on the court. His playful relationship with Buddy Hield has become a postgame highlight, and there’s even an infamous clip of Butler flipping the bird to Hield on the sidelines.
Heading into the Sacramento Kings game, Butler is averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 13 games with the Warriors, leading them to a 12-1 record with him in the lineup.
Curry has also been reinvigorated by Butler’s presence, averaging 29.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game since the trade. With these two stars together, the question is—can Golden State make another title run?
Draymond Green boldly claimed that the Warriors would win the NBA championship, and the team seems confident in their chances.
Confidence is the first step toward winning, and the Warriors have plenty of it. Could the Jimmy Butler effect push them to a higher seed before the season ends? What will a Warriors playoff run with Butler and Curry leading the way look like? Time will tell.