It’s official—Jimmy Butler is a Warrior! And what a debut to remember. Action, drama, and a comeback that felt almost unreal. Down by 24 to the Chicago Bulls? No problem. The Dubs flipped the script, winning by 21 in true Mr. Playoffs and Baby-Faced Assassin fashion. But wait—there’s more to this grand welcome, than just a win. Because, the franchise’s majority owner, Joe Lacob, just broke his silence on Butler. And his take? A never-heard-before one!

Speaking to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Joe Lacob shut down the “desperate” narrative for the Jimmy Butler trade. He made one thing clear—this was business as usual. This year too, isn’t any different from the years that have passed. And, in all honesty, the Warriors always chase greatness. “Anybody good. Anybody.” Well, that mindset hasn’t ever changed.

But now, sharing some exclusive insider talks, Slater had more things to share that he got to know from Lacob. Simply put, it looks like the 69-year-old boss is a fan of Jimmy. On the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, the insider said: “I was talking to Joe Lacob about him [Butler], Joe called him a Top 10, Top 15 player.” Well, there’s no denying that the 35-year-old power forward is a superstar. “He’s still at the highest of levels. He’s in incredible shape, which is why he’s aged the way he has,” Slater added.

However, given the current negative light and his questionable availability, can Jimmy truly become the so-called Top 10 or Top 15 player, as Joe Lacob stated? “I don’t know if he is that high, but, they just paid him like he was,” the podcast hosts commented. The 6x All-Star is on a two-year, $121 million contract with the Golden State Warriors, and the team wants him to be a good player at least till the end of his deal.

Because “if he is, this is about to get interesting with the Warriors,” Slater further chipped in. “If he’s a top 10, 15 type player and Steph playing the way he is, they should muscle their way into the playoffs.” Standing on the eleventh step in the West with a 26-26 record after Saturday’s big game, playoffs might look slightly far-fetched. But, remember, the Dubs now have the prowess of Jimmy Butler, who’s known to the world as Mr. Playoffs. And well, anything could happen. Tables in the NBA flip within the blink of an eye!

Moreover, it’s not just Butler who has found back his love for the sport. The Warriors HC Steve Kerr, who had been emotionally overwhelmed after Andrew Wiggins’ exit, might have regained himself following Jimmy’s debut.

Jimmy Butler’s first game brought back Steve Kerr’s spark

Playing for 29 minutes, Jimmy Butler lit up Chicago’s United Center in his first game as the Warriors’ No. 10. His number, an ode to the many No.10s in the world of sports, precisely soccer, which happens to be the 35-year-old’s favorite sport. Chipping in 25 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists to Stephen Curry‘s 34 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, Jimmy showed why he’s still one of the most lethal stars on the court. But most importantly, it was Steve Kerr, who seemed uplifted by the team’s great comeback night against the Bulls.

The hosts of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast recalled the distraught and teary-eyed Steve Kerr from Wednesday’s tough night in Utah. Andrew Wiggins had been traded, and the HC wasn’t prepared for it. “He did love Wiggins, and this whole franchise loves Wiggins,” they mentioned. “And certainly didn’t want to give him up in the deal was just obviously because of financial reasons.” However, it took the 59-year-old ringmaster only a few days to return to his old self. And for this, Jimmy Butler deserves most of the credits, if not all. “It didn’t take more than a few days for Steve to be like, ‘Yeah, this is what he called it.’ He said that was pretty fun. Pretty good.”

As you can see, the Warriors locker room and front office are in a celebration mode following Butler’s first game. Surely, there’s the heartbreak of losing their championship-winning star, Andrew Wiggins. However, looking ahead, Jimmy could become the key Steph Curry and the team has been looking for since Klay Thompson. And who knows, a fifth ring might not be a distant dream anymore.