Things can get quite emotional when a player returns to a club they served for years. Depending on how they left things, either you’re welcomed with open arms or there’s potential for drama. But for sure, it’s no typical regular-season game. However, this is exactly the issue Jimmy Butler and his former teammate Andrew Wiggins disagree upon.

The Golden State Warriors played the Miami Heat tonight. And Jimmy and Andrew found themselves in situations that were polar opposites of each other. Jimmy left the Heat for the Warriors after a tumultuous saga between him and the front office. On the other hand, Andrew Wiggins left the Warriors, beloved by everyone after helping them to a championship in 2022. Their situations, though similar, could not have been any more different. And their stances on the game reflected that.

” For sure. I mean, you can, you know, sense it on both sides obviously when you play a former teammate or you know, former team. There’s always that, you know, extra little motivation,” Wiggins said. He made it clear that this wasn’t an ordinary game. It meant more to him than that.

On the other hand, Jimmy chose to downplay the entire “playing against your former team” shtick. “Yeah, like I always say, I got a lot of love for the city, for the fan base here… I won’t say that there was a lot of emotions, though. I think I went into this thing level-headed. We wanted to win it, didn’t go the way we planned,” said Butler.

Perhaps this was Jimmy trying to save face after failing to make a statement in his return to his former club. Tonight’s 26-point loss must have stung. After all, you do remember how things ended between them, right? So Jimmy Butler not having a point to prove against them seems unlikely. But the Warriors star may have truly moved on after the start he got off to with his new team. Who knows? Stranger things have happened in the NBA.

But one thing we do know is that Andrew Wiggins feels a type of way about Warriors HC Steve Kerr. Here’s what the Heat star said about his former coach.

Andrew Wiggins reveals his feelings on Steve Kerr amid Jimmy Butler disagreement

Steve Kerr is a bona fide NBA legend. He’s been a part of legendary teams both as a coach and a player. What’s more is that you’ll struggle to find anyone who has bad things to say about the Dubs’ head coach. You certainly won’t hear those kinds of things from former Warriors star Andrew Wiggins.

The Miami Heat star was asked about his feelings on the Warriors’ head coach. And Wiggins proceeded to heap praises on Kerr. “I mean, coach Kerr is a, you know. He is a great guy, great guy. He’s a great coach, and he put me in position to be successful. You know, I had some great years there. Won a championship, was an All-star, and you know, even he helped put me in position to do that. And you know, even off the court, he is a, he is a great guy,” said Wiggins.

And even though he and Jimmy Butler disagree on the tensions that may or may not have flared during the game, they’ll probably agree on the things Wiggins said above. After all, coach Kerr let Jimmy be himself. Kerr even admitted to this, saying, “I told Jimmy that from Day 1. I said, ‘You be you.” 

And after the drama at his former team, we’re sure Jimmy appreciates it. Let’s just hope for his sake that he can show his appreciation for Kerr on the court, much like Andrew Wiggins did by helping the Dubs to an NBA title.