Jimmy Butler has been thriving since joining the Golden State Warriors. In games in which Butler has suited up, the Warriors are 14-1, including March 15 victory against the New York Knicks. During that game, the forward was reminded of his past life with the Miami Heat.
New York Knicks veteran forward P.J. Tucker embraced Butler on the court and later shared his reaction to the reunion.
P.J. Tucker’s Reunion With Former Heat Teammate Jimmy Butler Sparks Emotions
After his time with the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets, Tucker has bounced around the league. During the 2021-22 season, the North Carolina native joined the Heat.
By then, Butler had already spent two seasons in Miami. During their one year together, the two forwards formed a strong bond.
In 2022, Tucker left Miami to join the Philadelphia 76ers, while Butler cemented his legacy with the Heat, playing in Miami until 2025 before being traded to the Warriors on deadline day this February.
The two shared the court as rivals on Saturday, as Butler’s Warriors defeated Tucker’s Knicks 97-94. After the game, Butler posted a picture of himself with Tucker on his Instagram story, which Tucker promptly reposted with a special message.
“My brother in real life,” he captioned.
Butler played 33 minutes for the Warriors against the Knicks, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Butler Promises His Time Will Come Soon
Since his move to San Francisco, Butler has been a bit subdued. In his 15 games with the Warriors, the 35-year-old is averaging only 16.4 points per game and has embraced more of a facilitator role. However, after the victory over the Knicks, Butler said he was content with his contributions.
“I’m not just a scorer,” Butler said in a postgame media scrum. “I can score if I want to. I can shoot the toughest shots, and no one is going to say anything. But I want to get guys involved.”
“When it’s my time, you’ll know that it’s my time. Until then, we gonna pass the ball to the open man, get my guys some jumpers, get them out in transition, and we’re gonna keep winning.”
In Week 22, the Warriors will return to Chase Center to face the Denver Nuggets on Monday, March 17.