Pat Riley acquired lots of flak when he publicly expressed his unwillingness to pay Jimmy Butler max {dollars}. Some referred to as him senile and out of contact for burning bridges with the participant who led the Warmth to 2 NBA Finals in 2020 and 2023.
Riley has each cause to really feel vindicated after watching Butler underwhelm within the 2025 NBA playoffs.
In five games in opposition to the Timberwolves, Butler put up his traditional counting stats of 20.2 factors, 7.4 rebounds and 5.6 assists, however didn’t reside as much as his “Playoff Jimmy” moniker in pivotal moments. Within the fourth quarter, he shot a horrendous 5-of-21 (23.8 percent) from the sector to complete as a -18 on the ground.
Butler may additionally not provoke the Warriors on the defensive finish, as Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels repeatedly blew previous him. As the primary defender, he allowed McDaniels to shoot 70 % from the sector, Edwards 69.2 % and Julius Randle 53.8 %.
With Stephen Curry sidelined from Video games 2-5, the onus was on Butler to hold the Warriors. He underwhelmed, proving Riley proper for not overpaying a participant who turns 36 this September. Many fans took to social media to name Butler “overrated” and “washed” and a shell of the participant who was as soon as feared within the playoffs.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr nonetheless praised Butler for giving his workforce a puncher’s likelihood within the second half of the season. The Warriors went 20-6 with Butler within the lineup after the All-Star break, a sizzling run that allowed them to safe the No. 7 seed. Finally, Butler’s heroics had been inadequate to bail out the getting old Warriors.
