Jimmy Butler Joins Golden State Warriors in Blockbuster Trade, Eyes First NBA Championship
Jimmy Butler has officially ended his tumultuous relationship with the Miami Heat, securing a trade to the Golden State Warriors, where he will team up with two-time MVP Steph Curry in pursuit of his first NBA title.
In a statement made after his introduction by the Warriors prior to their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, Butler expressed his desire for a championship, saying, “I would like to say that I am a winner. I haven’t won ‘it’ but I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win ‘it’ — it being a championship.”
Butler’s exit from the Heat was anything but smooth. Tensions had been building for months, with the star guard frequently clashing with Miami’s front office. His frustrations boiled over in January, resulting in three suspensions. He had also faced criticism from Heat president Pat Riley following a disappointing season.
Despite the rocky departure, Butler maintained a positive tone in his comments about his former team. “I don’t got too many bad things to say about them,” he said. “They gave me an opportunity.
I felt like I did my job to the highest level. I have so much respect for that organization, for the people that’s running that organization and for my former teammates. And I’m always going to wish them the best. … I’ve got a lot of love for a lot of people over there in that organization.”
Butler also hinted at a renewed sense of happiness, adding, “I know I have my joy back now.”
During his tenure with the Heat, Butler left a lasting impact, leading the team with 13 triple-doubles and ranking among the franchise’s top 10 in points, rebounds, and assists.
His contributions were clearly valued by the Warriors, who sent Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick to Miami in exchange for Butler. The deal also includes a hefty financial commitment, with the Warriors set to pay Butler $113 million over the next two seasons.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, who worked with Butler during their time together in Chicago, acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions but emphasized the team’s ultimate goal: winning championships.
“This is never an easy time of year when you have to do some of this stuff and make some of these moves,” Dunleavy said, seated beside Butler. “But we’re in the business of winning and we made an acquisition of a guy sitting next to me who’s one of the best in the league, an elite two-way player and we’re thrilled to have him in the fold.”
As Butler embarks on this new chapter with Golden State, all eyes will be on his pursuit of the elusive NBA championship.
