“I never take anything for granted.” These words of Jimmy Butler, which he once said, still reflect who he is, more so, not the one who forgives easily. Yes, time heals everything, but some wounds leave scars that never truly fade. They might not hurt anymore, but they still serve as a reminder. We all know how the Butler-Sixers partnership ended in 2019. The then-76ers HC Brett Brown was not too fond of him perhaps and ended up keeping Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris instead of Butler. Well, Butler will never forget his time in Philly. Not because of his terrific run with the 76ers in just one season, but because of the way he was treated by the 76ers’ management. Brown still regrets his Butler decision. “It still haunts me,” Brown said about trying to connect the dots with Jimmy Ben Simmons and Joel Embid in 2019. But there was another person who became collateral damage in the 76ers-Butler saga.

In 2019, when the 76ers finally pulled the trigger a little too quickly by letting go of Butler despite a brilliant season, choosing Tobias Harris over him, it did not sit well with Butler. It didn’t cost Jimmy much, though. His move to Miami turned out to be a big win. But deep down, there’s no denying that a part of him felt the sting. And the past has a funny way of showing up, time and again.

On Saturday, the Warriors were up against the Pistons. Tobias Harris, who’s now playing in Detroit, was tasked with guarding Jimmy. With the score tied at 105 and under two minutes left, the game was on the verge of heading into overtime. But the 6x All-Star had other plans.

The ball was with Jimmy, who made a smooth move, outplaying the combo forward and sinking a clutch 2-pointer. As the camera zoomed in on his face, he was seen shaking his head, signaling a “no” disrespecting Tobias. This immediately caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans and they rushed to X, pointing out how Jimmy’s reaction was similar to his earlier unforgettable moment.

Back in 2022, the Heat eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semis. After the victory, as Jimmy Butler walked back to the locker room, frustration took over. He couldn’t hold back, yelling with an NSFW comment that echoed through the halls of the Wells Fargo Center, “Tobias Harris over me?”

Jimmy and Tobias were teammates in Philly. Though it was for a very short period, it ended on a sour note, thanks to the franchise. Instead of offering Jimmy a max contract, the Sixers traded him and handed Tobias a five-year deal. That didn’t sit well with Jimmy Butler and had a lasting impact on him that he still couldn’t get over.

But Jimmy’s in his happy place now, playing a key role in sealing the Pistons game with a 115-110 win. The Warriors are also thrilled with him emerging as a crucial piece alongside Stephen Curry. But did they forget about their popular star, Jonathan Kuminga? Not exactly, but it seems his future is still in question with how Steve Kerr chose to clarify things.

Top Comment by Rucker12

What colossal mistake? What has Jimmy Butler won? How many scoring titles has Jimmy won? Steals? Championships? MVPs? Assists? What...more

Share your take

Debate

Steve Kerr sheds light on Jonathan Kuminga’s Future with Jimmy Butler

Jonathan Kuminga’s topic came up during the post-game press conference on Saturday, as reporters asked Kerr how he would fit into the squad with Jimmy Butler because a lot has changed in his over two-month absence. “I don’t like these hard-hitting questions like this,” the head coach said. “It’s a really difficult thing when you are playing really well, and then you have a key guy coming back. It’s always tough.” 

So, how will Kerr manage to get both of them playing together? The 4x championship-winning coach has a plan chalked out. “I think the idea is just bring him along slowly,” he revealed. “You know, play them in short bursts.”

Kuminga sprained his ankle in early January and has been ruled out since. However, Kerr has expressed optimism about his return, noting that the 22-year-old’s “conditioning is getting there.” While he couldn’t provide a specific timeline, Kerr added, “Should be soon, and we’re excited to get him back.” Now, when he returns, whether Kerr’s plan will work out for Kuminga, Jimmy, and, most importantly, the Warriors, remains a question still up in the air.