CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler went into his Golden State Warriors debut without a practice or even the benefit of going through the morning shootaround before facing the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
Butler wasn’t allowed to participate in his squad’s morning walk-through because not all the players in the five-team, nine-player trade that landed him with Golden State on Wednesday had completed their physicals until late Saturday afternoon. So, Butler had to make his Warriors grand opening knowing a total of three plays that coach Steve Kerr gave him, along with some new terminology.
Still, Butler looked like the player the Warriors went out and traded for before immediately providing him with a new two-year, $111 million deal. He made 7 of 12 shots, got to the foul line 13 times and scored 25 points to help the Warriors overcome a 24-point deficit and rout the Bulls 132-111 at the United Center.
His 25 points were Butler’s most in a debut for a new team as well as the most in a first game by a Warrior since Kevin Durant in 2016.
But it was the aura Butler brought to the Warriors that might have stood out the most, according to Kerr.
“I’m most impressed with his passing,” Kerr said. “His passing changes everything. … The skill, the strength, the ability to get to the free throw line.
“And in the end, it goes beyond that. Just his presence out there. He’s a lion. He’s a force.”
Even four-time NBA champions Stephen Curry and Draymond Green could feel Butler’s impact. For just over two quarters, Golden State (26-26) looked like it was going to sleepwalk its way to a third straight loss. The Bulls (22-31) raced out to an 83-59 lead with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Then Butler got to the foul line for two of his 11 made free throws. Shortly thereafter, Curry exploded, scoring 22 points in the final 7:54 of the quarter. By the time Curry buried his fifth 3-pointer of the quarter, the Warriors led 97-93 on the strength of a 38-10 blitz.
“At no point was it ever like, ah, body language dropping,” Green said. “That’s kind of what you’ve seen this year. We get down, it’s kind…
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