Golden State Warriors’ veteran Draymond Green has called his new teammate Jimmy Butler as a franchise changer. The Dubs have a 3-1 record since Butler has joined forces with them. The Warriors registered a 105-98 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Thursday.
“He’s a franchise changer,” Warriors power forward Draymond Green said about Butler. “He’s done that everywhere he’s gone and he is helping revitalize what we got here. The belief amongst this team, now that he’s arrived, as opposed to what it was before he got here, it’s night and day.”
Butler finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists against the Rockets and played a key role in the team’s win. The team’s head coach Steve Kerr said they wanted a player like Jimmy Butler to provide support to Stephen Curry.
“Jimmy, he’s a real deal,” Kerr said. “I mean, just a complete basketball player, methodical, under control all the time, plays at his own pace, never turns it over, sees the game and then can get to the line frequently. Great closer, not in the traditional sense where he’s going to be Kevin Durant and make four straight midrange jumpers, but it’s more of a complete game. Get to the line, make the right pass, get somebody else an open look, get a defensive stop, get a rebound. He’s a fantastic player.”
The Warriors suffered a 111-107 loss against the Dallas Mavericks and Butler said they should have won that game too.
“We should be 4-0,” Butler said. “I am not going to lie to you. I have been sick to my stomach because of it since I got here. But we are going to figure it out. We are going to go streaking.”
Green added that Butler’s addition is great for the franchise and he would keep on playing a key role in the team’s success.
“We let one get away last night, but this one tonight, we would’ve lost,” Green said. “But just having a guy like that changes everything for us. So after four games … the assessment [on Butler] is, it’s great.”
Golden State Warriors will next take on Sacramento Kings on 21st February.
