“I can’t wait until I’m back in basketball shape… I’m glad we’re winning. But I gotta get in better shape,” said Jimmy Butler after registering his second win as a Warriors star. Imagine the level of impact that an out-of-shape baller (he thinks) can create on a has-been team. The star forward’s presence has already released the pressure off Steph Curry’s shoulder, as the superstar recorded 36 ppg in the last 2 games. It’s not only about the space Butler created on the floor but also the psychological impact, says Coach Steve Kerr.

Without beating around the bush, let’s just address the latest buzz in the Bay Area. The fans think they have found another ‘KD’ for the franchise. Some stats even support the claim. For instance: Butler attempted 28 free throws in his first 2 games and became the first player to reach the line at least 13 times in consecutive games since Kevin Durant in 2018. Anyway, it may sound outrageous when someone concludes Jimmy is the new ‘KD’ just with this stat.

But the point is that Jimmy Butler triggered a wave of confidence in the San Francisco side. It was so evident that Steve Kerr revealed the team’s concerning state before Big Face took over. “You see the sudden shift in the psychology, the emotion, the confidence, some of it is based on the roster itself,” said Kerr about Butler’s influence, featuring on 95.7 The Game.

Following that, the 9x Champ addressed the missing piece on the roster. Apart from Steph’s presence, the Dubs don’t really have anything threatening on the court. Notably, this very fact seemed to have burdened the superstar.

Kerr added, “We just didn’t have the whatever ‘it’ is… We didn’t have the X-factor anymore. Sometimes you just need new blood… We needed what Jimmy is bringing us. Kind of a star confidence. You can just feel his presence and force. He’s infusing the team with new energy.” 

Imagine the stat, the team was in a few days ago, struggling to finish the game and blowing the leads in the last quarter. Importantly, there were several occassions where the team blow up massive leads. During one such loss against the Spurs, Kerr added, “Felt like we lost juice again… Not a lot of energy. Not a lot of force.” So, coming from a man who has seen the highs and lows of the franchise, Jimmy Butler seemed to have emerged as the guiding light of the franchise. Moreover, it wasn’t just Kerr who identified the Dubs’ new zeal but also a former Dubs champ too!

Warriors legend heaps praise for Jimmy Butler

We’re talking about the Nigerian big man Festus Ezeli, who served for the Dubs during the most crucial stage, the beginning of the Kerr-Curry era. The 35-year-old has also secured a ring in the process. So, it’s safe to say that Ezeli knows a thing or two about the Warriors’ culture. And after watching just two games of Jimmy Butler‘s magic, he couldn’t stop himself from praising the 6x All-Star.

“You watch Jimmy as a player, you have no you have no choice but to respect him as a winner,” said Ezeli. He further added, “Jimmy finds a way to get stuff done. He’s taken his basketball talents and just been able to work his tail off to become the guy that we know is Jimmy Butler.”

Above all, it wasn’t just the people watching from the outside, Baby-faced Assassin himself acknowledged the fact Jimmy has the key to the Warriors’ success. Following the latest win over the Bucks, Stephen Curry said, “Every possession just doesn’t feel as hard,” after dropping 38 points. Of course, why would it feel hard if Butler attracts all the defenders into the paint? It’s interesting to know how far the Dubs can go with this. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.