The Golden State Warriors improved to 39-28 in 2024-25 with a 97-94 win over the New York Knicks at Chase Center on Saturday. The Warriors got this win despite Jimmy Butler having another relatively quiet night offensively, with the veteran recording 11 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a steal.
The Warriors are now 14-1 with Butler in the lineup, but that great record hasn’t been achieved due to his scoring exploits. The 35-year-old is averaging 16.4 points on 44.2% shooting from the field for his new team, but he isn’t losing much sleep over it. When asked about his scoring after the win over the Knicks, Butler stated he could turn it up whenever he wanted.
“I’m not just a scorer,” Butler said, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “I can score whenever I want to. I could shoot the toughest of toughest shots if I wanted to, and nobody’s ever gonna say anything. But I wanna get everybody involved. Wanna get guys in their spots.
“When it’s my time, you’ll know it’s my time,” Butler added. “Until then, I’m going to pass the ball to the open man, get my guys some jumpers, get them out in transition, and we gonna keep winning.”
Jimmy Butler on his scoring: “When it’s my time, you’ll know it’s my time. Until then, I’m going to pass the ball to the open man, get my guys some jumpers, get them out in transition and we gonna keep winning.” pic.twitter.com/sbue8m2uIP
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 16, 2025
While fans might usually scoff at a player suggesting they could turn it up a notch if they wanted to, Butler has done that time and time again in his career. He is one of the greatest playoff risers the NBA has ever seen, and if the Warriors ever need him to take over, he is fully capable of doing so.
Butler is just playing within the flow of the offense at the moment. The six-time All-Star is also more than happy to take a backseat, considering how well everyone else is performing.
David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The Warriors’ decision to trade for Butler, despite the concerns surrounding him, has paid off thus far. He has made life easier for Stephen Curry on the court merely with his presence, while his playmaking and defense have elevated the team as a whole.
Golden State has now gone from one of the most disappointing teams this season to one of the more dangerous squads. They are currently on a seven-game winning streak and will look for another victory when they take on the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Monday night.