As Jimmy Butler was about to start his introductory press conference with the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 7, he heard his new teammates outside the room hyping themselves up before running on to the floor for a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers. With a smile, the six-time NBA All-Star said, “Those are my teammates.”

As soon as Butler arrived at Golden State, he made sure that the soap opera from his trade request and suspensions with the Miami Heat wouldn’t hang over him like a San Francisco morning fog. So, the veteran swingman made a point to tell his new teammates he was committed to winning.

“When I walked in, I was like, ‘Yo, look man, I’m only here to win,’” Butler told Andscape. “’I don’t care about nothing else. I don’t care about points. I don’t care about shots. I don’t care about none of that. I’m only here to win and I’ve always only been places to win. So, whatever y’all need me to do, y’all let me know.’

“‘Show me some grace because I’m new until I get the hang of this thing. But the one thing about everything is my energy is at an all-time high because I’m here and ain’t s— changed. The goal is still remaining the same and that’s winning a championship.’ ”

So far, so good for Butler since his arrival to the Warriors, who have gone from play-in tournament likely to a championship contender with Butler in just over a month’s time.

The Warriors had been desperately seeking a dependable No. 2 scorer to play alongside star guard Stephen Curry all season. The Warriors had a 25-26 record and were in 10th place in the Western Conference before Butler played in his first game on Feb. 8 in Chicago. The Warriors acquired Butler from the Heat on Feb. 5 in a multi-team trade that sent forwards Kyle Anderson and Andrew Wiggins to the Heat, guard Dennis Schröder (now with the Detroit Pistons) to the Utah Jazz and guard Lindy Waters III to the Pistons. Butler certainly fit the bill of a No. 2 scorer as he was averaging 17 points per game under duress with Miami and also added elite defensive ability.

The Butler trade had the oddity of being agreed to on Feb. 5 while the Warriors were on the road to play the Jazz. Both Curry and fellow Warriors star Draymond Green texted Butler at halftime to welcome him. Butler responded by telling Curry and Green to win the game, which the Warriors lost 131-128, and worry about him afterwards. But the sentiment of those texts certainly meant a lot to Butler.

“Soon as we found out about the trade, we were getting ready for a game, but also just wanting him to know like, ‘Yo, we are looking forward to you getting here,” Green said. “It’s something that everyone’s kind of been anticipating, not necessarily that we ever knew it would be Jimmy Butler [coming]. But we knew it would be somebody of that magnitude and that we were going after. And so [it was] just kind of letting him know the excitement that we’re all looking forward to him joining.”

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler against the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 21 at Kaseya Center in Miami.

While Butler initially wanted to play for the Phoenix Suns and the Warriors initially wanted to bring back Phoenix All-Star forward Kevin Durant, the marriage between Butler and the Warriors happened instead. Butler said he had a deep and needed conversation with both Curry and Green that got them on the same page after the trade. Butler also felt wanted by the Warriors, who not only desperately needed him but showed commitment by signing him to a two-year, $111 million contract extension that carries through the 2026-27 season.

“I saw a group that wanted me to be a part of it,” Butler said. “That’s all you ever wanted to be is wanted in this life, not just in this league. In anything, you want to be wanted. Needed is like a necessity. Wanted is like somebody’s choosing to bring you aboard this. I think that’s the ultimate sign of respect.

“I talked to both [Curry and Green], but I’ve talked to both of them for a while. But they said, ‘We can do something special. We need what you bring. The winning mentality, the hard nose on both sides of the ball.’ I think that’s what you want. That’s what they told me that I bring and I’m like, ‘Come on with it.’ ”

Butler wanted to be traded because he felt the Heat were moving in a direction without him in mind and he wanted to be more valued, sources said. The four-time NBA All-Star ended up asking for a trade from the Heat in his seventh season with the franchise. From 2019 to 2025, Butler led the Heat to NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023, averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game, and made two All-Star appearances.

Miami suspended Butler three times this season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team and once after he missed a team flight. Butler’s last suspension was indefinite after he left shootaround on Jan. 27 after learning he would be relegated to the bench. When Butler debuted for the Warriors on Feb. 8, it was his first game that he played since Jan. 21.

On his last days in Miami, Butler added: “I’m healthy. I got my kids. I got Big Face brand (his coffee company). I’m good. I got the opportunity to go work on my s—. Work on my game. Be around my people. Play some dominoes. I knew I was going to end up somewhere where I was wanted. I knew I was going to play basketball again.”

So how did Butler’s end in Miami affect him mentally?

“I’m great. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m great. Basketball is not difficult. Basketball is not the only thing that I do. Basketball does not define me. I’m in a really good headspace,” Butler said.

Golden State Warriors teammates Stephen Curry (left) and Jimmy Butler (right) high five during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 23 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The Warriors have been the hottest team in the Western Conference since Butler’s arrival. Golden State is 12-1 in games Butler has played, including a five-game winning streak entering Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Butler was averaging 17.6 points. 5.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 13 games with Golden State entering Thursday.

Curry has also been aided by Butler’s arrival, averaging 29.9 points, 9.0 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals per game while shooting 42.4% from 3-point range in 14 games. Curry added that he is more comfortable playing in his natural rotation with Butler on the roster. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said Curry has been saying the team has a shot again to compete for a title since the addition of Butler. Butler has also spent time after practicing working with the Warriors’ younger players.

“Super-consistent, A professional,” Curry said. “There’s been a lot of eyeballs with him all season and all that, but I loved the way he’s approached everything. Me and Draymond always talk about [how] we don’t ask anybody to be anybody other than themselves, but we show up to play.”

There is also an off the court adjustment for Butler after signing a contract extension with Golden State.

Since he has arrived in San Francisco, Butler has been living in a posh downtown hotel. He is in the process of finding a new home, but it’s been complicated due to his lack of time in San Francisco since the trade, a source said. When time permits, he said he would also like to open a Big Face Coffee store in the Bay Area as well. He is playing dominos regularly with Green, although Butler said with a sly smile that he wouldn’t reveal who has had the upper hand.

“I’m here now. The organization is great, the guys are great, winning is great and we do any and everything that it takes to win here,” Butler said. “So that’s what makes my mental so great. We’re winning again. I love the spirit that surrounds. I do…

“There’s no talking about myself, which is great. Let me go drink my coffee, play my dominoes and leave me alone.”