Draymond Green did not hesitate to share his thoughts when discussing Jimmy Butler and the incredible impact the NBA star has already made for the Golden State Warriors. With the 2024-25 regular season at an end, the Warriors found themselves back in the play-in tournament.
Since the team has had little success in this single-elimination format, fans were worried about the Warriors’ postseason aspirations. However, Butler’s presence helped quiet any negative energy or fears heading into the play-in.
After Butler carried his team to a victory over Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, Green was asked about his new teammate’s mentality and impact.
Draymond Green Agrees That Playoff Jimmy Is on Another Level
Although Butler has yet to win an NBA championship, there’s no denying he brings something special to the playoffs. While most stars tend to dip in the postseason, Butler is the opposite. Time and again, he’s proven he can elevate his game when it matters most.
While the play-in tournament might not technically count as the playoffs, Butler treated it like a Game 7. In the matchup for the No. 7 seed against the Grizzlies, the Warriors star dropped a game-high 38 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Green, who clearly noticed the switch, spoke about his thoughts on “Playoff Jimmy.”
“I’ve seen it the last few nights. He just turned it up completely on both sides of the ball. I might wanna give him some c*ap about missing six free throws, but he’s just… I don’t know, man. I think… I think what’s great is that everyone else is adjusting to it because he’s way more aggressive to score. He hadn’t yelled at anybody since he’s been here. He’s yelling at guys now. Like, it’s a totally different person.”
Green concluded, “But I think the way the guys are adjusting to it is beautiful, so we gotta make sure we keep doing that so he’s a completely different person.
Draymond Green confirms “playoff Jimmy” has officially arrived:
“He’s just turned it up completely on both sides of the ball… he hadn’t yelled at anybody since he been here. He’s yelling at guys now, like it’s a totally different person.” pic.twitter.com/NjQih3qJN9
— KNBR (@KNBR)
It’s a good sign that Butler is comfortable showing his true self to his new team. And the fact that the Warriors are in sync with that shift proves they could be legitimate contenders this postseason.
The real winner here might be Stephen Curry. He scored 37 points in the same game against Memphis, but it would’ve been in vain without Butler’s all-around performance. As the Warriors prepare to face the Houston Rockets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, fans are left wondering how far this team can go on the backs of “Playoff Jimmy” and Curry.