Jimmy Butler is not messing around. He just dropped a quote that ought to send shivers down the spine of every defender in the league: “Y’all motherf***ers going to be real shocked if y’all think I’m going to come back and be some bum-a** player.” That’s the fiery talk of a man ready to prove everyone wrong, especially after a tough run for the Golden State Warriors without him.
The Warriors Felt His Absence, Big Time
Butler is heading into his 16th NBA season, and he’s clearly feeling the weight of expectations. He tore his right ACL back in January, and it sidelined him for the rest of what was supposed to be a resurgent year. He totally opened up to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, admitting he felt like he “let Steph [Curry] down,” “Draymond [Green] down,” and even “Steve [Kerr] down” because they “took a chance” trading for him during the 2024-25 season. And honestly, who can blame him for feeling that way? Without their alpha on the floor, the Warriors slid to a miserable 12-26 record for the rest of the season. They barely snuck into the postseason as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. Yeah, they beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the Play-In Tournament, but then the Phoenix Suns just flat-out blew them out. Head Coach Steve Kerr was blunt about it, saying Butler’s absence took a huge toll. “He’s such an alpha,” Kerr said. “Everyone feels so confident when he’s on the floor. There’s just a sense of swagger that you have when Jimmy’s on your team. So, it felt like we lost that instantly.”
Comeback King: “I’m Feeling Great”
Before the injury, Butler was absolutely balling out, averaging 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He was even shooting 38% on 85 three-point attempts. Now, at 37, he’s deep in rehab and sounds pumped. He told Slater he’s “feeling great. Surgery went well. We’ve been obviously doing this rehab thing, going through that process. But all in all, I’m back moving on the floor, some running, jogging, doing all of…” The exact return date is still under wraps, though. Butler grinned, “I know. We know. Y’all just find out whenever y’all find out.” But the encouraging recovery points to him hitting the court again sometime in January or February. You can feel his determination, man. He wants to be an impact player, make one last playoff run, and finally get that NBA championship that’s eluded him. He’s not coming back to be some washed-up veteran, and he wants everyone to know it.
The Warriors kick off their 2026-27 season Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. You know Butler will be watching, ready to unleash his alpha energy and prove he’s still got it. What a season this is shaping up to be for Golden State, with Jimmy G Buckets aiming for one last shot at glory.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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