WHEN JIMMY BUTLER joined his first team flight with the Golden State Warriors, on the eve of his debut against the Chicago Bulls on February 8th, he carried a familiar item in his hand luggage: his dominoes.
Dominoes are central to cherished memories with his late father, Jimmy Butler Jr., who passed away a year prior. Despite his demanding job as an 18-wheeler driver, Butler Jr. introduced his son to dominoes, teaching him strategy, attentiveness to surroundings and opponents` cues, and the essence of winning.
`It`s funny because that`s how my dad and I used to outsmart people,` Butler shared with ESPN. `We`d challenge adults, betting five dollars. My dad would say, `I`ll take my son.` People would scoff, thinking it`s an easy win. We sometimes lost, but usually, we won.`
Butler recalls his father meticulously recreating domino setups from past defeats, explaining strategic errors.
`His numerical and dominoes mind was exceptional,` Butler remarked. `Like mine now, a trait I inherited.`
`I`d wonder how he remembered plays from hours or weeks ago. He’d explain, `If you were attentive, you’d see where we went wrong and how to win.“
Butler applies these lessons on the basketball court, observing opponents` frustrations or physical tells to gain an edge.
`It comes from my father, who shaped me,` said Butler, who added `III` to his name and jersey to honor his father upon joining Golden State. `He instilled in me the essence of counting and strategy.`
`I learned the significance of winning, dominating, and striving for excellence, eventually surpassing him in skill before he passed.`
On that flight, Butler`s dominoes opponent was Draymond Green, eager for a rematch. Over the following month and a half, spanning 19 NBA games, they forged a bond impacting their teamwork.
The Warriors` acquisition of Butler from the Miami Heat on February 5th, followed by a $111 million, two-year contract, was a calculated risk. They hoped he could revive a faltering season and bolster Green and Stephen Curry toward playoff contention. The gamble paid off: the Warriors are 16-3 with Butler, rising to sixth in the Western Conference, nearing home-court advantage in the first round. Conversely, the Heat are 5-17 since the trade, recently ending a 10-game losing streak, their longest since 2008.
As Butler returns to Miami after a tough exit, this six-time All-Star has revitalized the Warriors and developed crucial chemistry with Green, potentially defining their season`s trajectory.
`We are two winners dedicated to victory,` Butler said about Green. `He prioritizes team success over personal accolades; his focus is solely on winning championships.`
`My only goal is to win. Disagreements are irrelevant; our shared ambition is to win. People underestimate our unity, imagining conflicts. But our common goal is victory.`
GREEN HAD ANTICIPATED this dominoes rematch for nine years. Their past games occurred during the 2016 Rio Olympics when they played `nine no pull.` Butler consistently defeated Green.
Despite Green`s competitive nature, he hadn`t forgotten those losses. Since then, he has played more dominoes, improving over the decade, yet Butler also honed his skills.
Green acknowledges Butler`s mastery in various dominoes styles.
`It`s like basketball strategy, anticipating plays,` Green explained. `You read opponents` domino plays to manipulate the game to your advantage. Butler excels at this.`
After countless domino sessions on flights and in hotels, Green recently achieved his first victory against Butler. However, the significant development was their deep conversations during these times. They shared stories of growing up in Tomball, Texas, and Saginaw, Michigan, of being overlooked in NBA drafts, and of public misperceptions.
Their extensive talks often blurred time, leading them to miss dinner and realize shootaround was imminent. Butler mentioned spending nearly six hours playing dominoes with locals at his Miami coffee shop.
`You hear snippets of Jimmy Butler’s story,` Green noted. `But I`ve never heard the complete narrative. I`m using this time to understand his full journey.`
`Jimmy is an enigma, a closed book to many.`
Butler dismisses public opinions, whether about the Timberwolves practice incident or his Heat departure.
He found common ground with Green, who faced his own controversies, from the Jordan Poole incident to suspensions for on-court actions.
Butler notes shared criticisms between them.
`We connect on family, basketball passion, small-town backgrounds, overcoming late draft selections,` Butler said. `I pity those who criticize Jimmy Butler III without understanding. Draymond isn’t an `a-hole`; he’s a winner, a truth-teller, which some dislike.`
During a win against the Knicks, Butler calmed Green during an interaction with a fan, leveraging their growing understanding.
`Knowing what triggers you helps me calm you down or fire you up,` Butler explained. `I’ve learned to intervene when Draymond is engaged with fans, reminding him of our focus on winning, not external distractions.`
Butler’s synergy with Green has significantly boosted the Warriors` defense, ranking second in efficiency since Butler`s arrival, improving from tenth.
Coach Steve Kerr highlights a turning point in their win against the Knicks, where the Warriors dominated the second half with Butler`s playmaking, drawing parallels between Green and Butler to legendary duos like Pippen and Jordan, citing their `incredible intelligence, athleticism, and versatility.`
Following Butler`s Warriors debut win, Kerr likened Butler`s presence to a `lion,` a comparison Green initiated.
`Two lions are better than one,` Gary Payton II remarked.
THE TORONTO RAPTORS aimed to upset the Warriors again, even with Curry sidelined. Despite Curry`s absence due to injury, Jamal Shead sought to capitalize, spotting Ochai Agbaji for a potential score. Green intervened with a crucial deflection.
Later, with a three-point deficit, Shead drove again, but Butler sealed the game with a block.
Butler celebrated with Green, acknowledging their combined defensive impact.
`Draymond’s relentless spirit and will to overcome physical limitations are exceptional,` Butler praised. `He’s a true Defensive Player of the Year caliber. I`m not diminishing past teammates, but Draymond`s impact is undeniable.`
Butler`s influence extends to Curry, stabilizing the team when Curry is off-court. The Warriors` assist percentage has surged since Butler`s arrival, potentially record-setting.
In clutch games with Butler, the Warriors are 7-2. Butler`s all-around game, including a recent triple-double, proves vital, even on less efficient shooting nights. His presence and defense are game-changers.
Coach Thibodeau, who previously coached Butler, highlights their `disruptive` defensive partnership, praising their `basketball IQ and anticipation,` comparable to Green`s impact at center.
Curry gains offensive support, and Green finds a like-minded defender in Butler.
`Teams are always targeting us,` Green reflected. `We needed someone with their own force, not just a follower. Butler brings that. We share intelligence and a relentless drive against opponents. He`s changing our team`s dynamics and potential.`
