Jimmy Butler made his highly anticipated return to the court on Saturday, playing his first game with the Golden State Warriors. The game marked Butler’s first appearance since his former team, the Miami Heat, suspended him for the second time this season. His return ended with a 132-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
However, the moment carried a deeper significance for Butler. While he now wears the No. 10 jersey as a member of the Warriors, he chose to debut with “Butler III” on the back of his jersey. This was a tribute to his late father, as Saturday marked the first anniversary of his father’s passing.
Jimmy Butler had “Butler III” on his jersey tonight to honor the death anniversary of his father, who passed exactly one year ago today.
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) February 9, 2025
🙏🙏
(H/T @BullsMuse_) pic.twitter.com/bm2niic87L
Butler’s father passed away just before the All-Star break last season after battling a terminal illness. The devastating news reached Butler through a text message from his agent. In Episode 5 of a Netflix series, Butler shared how deeply it affected him.
“When you lose somebody who’s that dear to you and that’s taught you so much, who has seen you grow from a kid to a young adult to a star to the man that I am today as a father, and then all of a sudden he’s not there anymore, I didn’t know what to do,” Butler said.
Jimmy Butler Reflects On First Game With Stephen Curry
Jimmy Butler spoke about playing alongside Stephen Curry for the first time in the postgame press conference. The former Heat star expressed his admiration for the way Curry’s presence impacts the game.
“They say opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa. They’re (the defense) not leaving him ever, probably two people. There’s so much space with everyone else; I get the easy job. It’s so great playing with someone like that,” Butler said.
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Steph and Butler combined for 59 points to lead Golden State to the win on Saturday. With a strong first outing together, Butler and Curry have already shown they can be a dangerous duo.
