The Golden State Warriors knew they were getting a competitor in Jimmy Butler - a battle-tested, playoff-proven veteran with a reputation for rising to the moment. But nearly halfway through the season, they’re getting a closer look at the full Jimmy Butler experience - and it’s raising some eyebrows in the Bay.
There’s no doubt Butler still has the talent to be a difference-maker. He’s averaging 19 points per game, thanks in large part to his knack for getting to the free-throw line.
But the issue isn’t what he can do - it’s how often he chooses to do it. Too often this season, Butler has faded into the background offensively, taking fewer than 10 shots in six games already.
For a player being paid like a franchise cornerstone, that’s not what you want to see.
To put it plainly: the Warriors need more from him.
Right now, Butler is averaging just 11 field goal attempts per game - the same ballpark as Jonathan Kuminga. That’s not a knock on Kuminga, who’s developing nicely, but when your marquee addition is matching your 21-year-old forward in shot volume, something’s off.
And it’s not like Golden State is cruising. At 13-14, they’re hovering below .500 and looking for someone to take the reins.
This isn’t a case of Butler stepping back to let others shine - it’s happening in games where the Warriors need someone to step up. Instead, Butler’s been content to defer, and that passivity is starting to wear thin.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Miami fans have been here before. During the latter part of his Heat tenure, Butler’s inconsistency - not in effort, but in offensive assertiveness - became a point of contention.
On any given night, he could dominate a game. But predicting when that switch would flip?
That was the hard part. Even in the playoffs, there were moments where Heat fans were left wondering why Butler didn’t take over when the opportunity was there.
Now, Warriors fans are starting to ask the same questions.
It’s not about effort - Butler still defends, still competes, still brings the edge that’s made him a six-time All-Star. But when your team is struggling to find its identity, and your highest-paid player is blending into the background, frustration is inevitable.
Some fans are already floating the idea of moving on, suggesting Butler could be trade bait if things don’t turn around. That’s a drastic step, and there’s no indication the Warriors are ready to pull the plug on this experiment just months in. But the very fact that those conversations are happening speaks volumes about how this partnership has gone so far.
Golden State brought in Butler to be a stabilizing force - someone who could help bridge the gap between the old guard and the next generation. But for that to work, he has to be more than just a presence.
He has to be a factor. The kind of player who demands the ball in crunch time, who sets the tone early, and who makes sure his team doesn’t let winnable games slip away.
The Warriors don’t need Jimmy Butler to be something he’s not. They just need him to be what he’s always capable of being - consistently.
Because when he’s locked in, Butler can tilt a game, a series, even a season. The problem is, right now, they’re not getting that version nearly often enough.
And if that doesn’t change soon, this season - and this partnership - could start to slip away.