GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

February 6, 2025

Jimmy Butler

Media Conference

MIKE DUNLEAVY: Obviously we got some news here to announce I think I'll start by thanking the guys that we've traded, Dennis, Lindy, Kyle and most especially Wiggs, who is a big part of this organization, and gave us a tremendous amount over his career with the Warriors, including the Championship. We thank those guys.

This is never an easy time of year when you have to do some of this stuff and make some of these moves. But we're in the business of winning, and we made an acquisition of a guy sitting next to me who is one of the best in the league, an elite two-way player, and we are thrilled to have him into the fold.

And you know, I think this is the type of thing where we've got to hit the ground running right away. Not a lot of room for error. We were sitting here at .500 with 32 games to go. It's time to get winning, and we're really excited about it.

So I guess without further ado, I'll welcome my former teammate Chicago Bulls, now a Golden State Warrior, Jimmy Butler.

JIMMY BUTLER: Thank you, thank you. For myself, I'm so happy to be playing basketball again, honestly. For an organization like this one, with some of the hella fire talent that we have. I'm glad I get the opportunity to get here and help get us to winning, do something special. I think that's why I'm here, and I will do my best to do what everybody wants, and that's to win a championship. I mean it.

Q. The sense out there during a lot of this process was that you were maybe trying to direct yourself to Phoenix. Obviously now you're with the Warriors, I guess. Is this kind of a second choice or do you do you view this partnership with the Warriors?

JIMMY BUTLER: This is a great choice, and the best part about everything is, I never say anything, so nobody actually really knows what's really going on because it never comes from my mouth.

So out of everything that's been going on, I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be able to play basketball again. Meaningful basketball, at that.

So I always leave it at that. I'm able to go and go out and do what I love, and I'm happy that it's for an organization like Golden State.

Q. What about playing with Steph and with Draymond appeals to you?

JIMMY BUTLER: That they always play winning basketball, and they will do whatever it takes to win. I think that's what I respect the most about those guys, and they have won at so many different levels, only at the highest level, and done it multiple times.

So not only can I bring some things to this team, I think they can teach me a whole lot.

Q. You competed against the Warriors for years and knowing your own personality, how do you see your personality type fitting with the guys that have been here?

JIMMY BUTLER: Hell, I think I'm going to fit right in. It's all about winning. So whatever happens, happens.

But at the end of the day if it's for the right reasoning and it's to get a W in that column, what else really matters.

Q. Where are you mentally right now? What has this time been like? And how did you help yourself get through the roughest of the days during this absence?

JIMMY BUTLER: I'm at a really good place mentally. This mini mini-break that I didn't want but had during the year, got to spend more time with my kids, more time with my loved ones and to reflect on a lot.

But I'm in shape. I'm ready to go. I've been training. I've been running up and down, laughing, smiling, having fun. But now I get to do one of the thins that I love to do more than thinking and that's compete.

Q. Will you be ready on Saturday?

JIMMY BUTLER: I'm ready. Saturday it is.

Q. Draymond it head the reason why he thinks this is going to fit is because you're a winner and they are a winner, I think he even said you're a "certified f'ing winner." How do you think your personality and the way you play is going to mesh with Draymond and also how do you feel about playing with a shooter like Steph?

JIMMY BUTLER: I think our personalities are going to be fine. 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. And as far as playing with Steph, everybody knows he's the greatest shooter in the world. Greatest shooter in history. Makes my job a lot easier. I've probably got a lot more space out there.

But more than anything, I think it's always going to be a team effort. We all got a lot more space out there. We'll see how it goes.

Q. We haven't heard from you since obviously the last game in Miami. How do you reflect, now that this is all over, how do you reflect on your time with the Heat, went to two different finals, Conference Finals, but obviously the way things ended?

JIMMY BUTLER: I'm straight. I don't got too many bad things to say about them. I don't.

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 the organization, for my former teammates, and I always wish them the best.

When March comes around, we need like that, like we need everything else, before you'll even ask, we take all the W's we can get around here.

But I have got a lot of love for the people there in that organization, and I just want them to know that I'm very grateful for the relationships that I have built and that I will keep for a lifetime.

Q. So what was it that made you want to leave then?

JIMMY BUTLER: That's a good question, actually. That is a good question. I don't know. Maybe just a lot of talking back-and-forth, and sooner or later, talking's got to stop.

Q. Have you heard much about the Warriors organization and how they treat players, and what have you learned about what you're stepping into?

JIMMY BUTLER: I haven't heard too much. I know that they are all about winning, though, which is all that matters.

I know they are going to do whatever it takes for their players to be comfortable because when you've got happy players, those players are going to go above and beyond to make sure that you're happy and that they are going to win.

So I know that that's part of it. I've seen if firsthand in the past couple of hours. I'm here talking to each and every one of you, and they are making sure that I have everything that I need and that I'm ready to go now, and that I'm ready to suit up on Saturday. I get a good grip of it.

Q. As a high IQ guy, how do you see yourself fitting on the court with their play style?

JIMMY BUTLER: We good. Pass the ball to Steph can get out the way. Easy.

He can still make it, I saw it in the Olympics.

Q. What's it like for you to have to deal with the speculation and you being the quiet person that you are publicly to sit here now and to now have the security of knowing that you're going to be here for the foreseeable future?

JIMMY BUTLER: Speculation is just what it is, though. I like to let people think that's what's going on is really going on when it's only one side of every story.

I don't have anything to say. I'm good. All of that is behind me. I'm moving forward, and I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be wanted again. So I'll leave it at that.

Q. Did you not feel wanted?

JIMMY BUTLER: Maybe at times. But like I said, who cares now? Because I'm here. And I would like to think that I am wanted here.

Q. One of the last times we heard from you was when you said that you just wanted to find your joy in basketball again, and you didn't think that you could find it in Miami. Is it as simple as new jersey, and you're back, this is joy?

JIMMY BUTLER: Yeah, I have a feeling I'm going to be back in a big way, too. I'm smiling. Like I said, I've been going at it. I've been training. I've been doing everything I'm supposed to be doing.

I know that I have my joy back now. I'm in a different situation. Different group of guys. I can't wait to get out there and compete. I've had all the family time that I need. I do want my -- there's my guys -- yeah, those are my guys.

I'm going to be ready to go.

Q. Are there any regrets on how this whole process played out?

JIMMY BUTLER: Only one. I just opened my coffee shop in Miami, and can't go there no more. So we going to have to figure out a way to get one in San Francisco.

Q. Is it in the works to open up one in the Bay?

JIMMY BUTLER: I damn sure hope so.

Q. How big a part of this was the extension that you signed and the fact that it lines up with Steph?

JIMMY BUTLER: Yeah, I'm not going to say that that was a big part but I'm happy about it. I am happy about it.

I think the biggest part was just getting me to be able to play basketball again. I just want to be able to go out there and do what I've been doing for a very long time and have fun and smile and rip and run, and not feel like I'm just doing cardio for the majority of the game.

I'm very, very happy that I'm not getting suspended no more.