Is Jimmy Butler definitely worth the two-year, $110.9M contract extension the Golden State Warriors gave him following his acquisition from the Miami Warmth in early February?
Early returns on the deal for Golden State are extraordinarily optimistic, with the Warriors going 15-2 with Butler and surging to sixth within the Western Convention.
Let’s dive deeper into the 35-year-old’s impression on the offense and protection for Golden State (40-29), which performs Toronto at residence Thursday.
(All statistics are by means of Wednesday’s play.)
Offense: Jimmy Butler boosts Steph Curry
Though Butler is averaging just 17.2 points with Golden State, 1.1 factors beneath his profession common, he’s making a significant impression on offense.
“You would inform he does not actually look to attain as a lot,” teammate Steph Curry said following a 97-94 win over the New York Knicks on March 15. “[That’s] simply because he is studying the protection, taking what they’re giving him, however having the ball in his palms is often a great factor.”
The five-time All-NBA participant’s playmaking for others — 6.1 assists per game as a Warrior, 1.8 greater than his profession common — is noteworthy.
“I like his passing,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated in late February, per NBC Sports Bay Area. “I simply really feel like each time he places the ball on the ground and pivots and makes a move, it’s not spectacular, but it surely simply makes the sport stream. And that’s precisely what this group wants.”
Butler’s ability to draw double-teams, even when sharing the floor with offensive savant Curry, has opened myriad scoring opportunities for Curry and others.
Following the loss to the Warriors on March 15, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau’s highlighted to reporters Butler’s ability to “read the game extremely well.”
Warriors ahead Draymond Inexperienced shared an identical sentiment following the win over the Knicks: “Jimmy creates for all of us.”
