Suns Announcer Roasts Jimmy Butler After Terrible Outings in Warriors’ Playoff Run

Jimmy Butler got slowed down in games 4 and 5 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who beat the Warriors 4-1.

Suns Announcer Roasts Jimmy Butler After Terrible Outings in Warriors’ Playoff Run

Jimmy Butler, Eddie Johnson (Image via Firstsportz)

Jimmy Butler has been the prime target of memes from NBA Twitter after the Warriors were eliminated from the playoffs. The former Miami Heat and Timberwolves star was blasted for his passive offensive approach. Despite Stephen Curry missing the last four games of the series, Butler did not fill in with the volume scoring the Warriors needed. He only attempted 20 shots combined in games 4 and 5.

Phoenix Suns announcer Eddie Johnson is one of the most active former NBA players on Twitter/X. The 17-year NBA veteran has been an integral member of the NBA media fraternity, and is known to speak his mind. One of his favorite activities on social media is addressing average people as ‘water boys’ for their basketball takes. He has an unfiltered attitude to giving his opinion on players, fans and managers alike.

Butler’s scoring output and his aggression were undoubtedly affected by the pelvic injury he suffered in the first round. Butler missed games due to a hard landing caused by Amen Thompson inadvertently undercutting him. However, his attitude was some ways off what other injured stars have displayed even in these playoffs. The likes of Jaylen Brown and Donovan Mitchell, among others, were way more assertive.

The Warriors went on a winning streak after trading for Butler, but the forward will cost $60 million/year for two more seasons. Being paid like a supermax player, the player has to have the statistical output of one. At a minimum, Butler should be forcing the issue and shooting more, even if he puts up inefficient volume stats. His inability to do so has lined him up in Eddie Johnson’s line of sight for some trash talk.

In turn, the team has had to look to youngster Jonathan Kuminga as the volume scorer. His youth aside, Kuminga was the only Warrior consistently able to generate separation after being thrust into an increased role. The Suns’ announcer tweeted the following in response to a discussion on Get Up.

“I once got home late and my front door was wide open, power off with my family inside sleep. (true story) ! I called security. They sent a guy who had a solid rep. I noticed as we climbed the stairs he moved behind me like “Playoff Jimmy” did Kuminga.”

The Warriors should prioritize playing Jonathan Kuminga and Jimmy Butler together

One of the criticisms that Warriors fans and Steve Kerr have had of Jonathan Kuminga is his tendency not to pass. Kerr reportedly believed that Kuminga should be readier to pass the ball to Stephen Curry when the latter got open. His inability to display the desired mentality caused Kerr to pull Kuminga from his playoff rotation. However, with Curry out, the team needed Kuminga’s shot creation to stand a chance.

Kuminga will be a restricted free agent this upcoming summer. Unless the Warriors draft an NBA-ready scorer, they will likely retain Kuminga for his two-way ceiling. While the 2025 postseason didn’t fully make the case, it almost certainly forced Golden State to reconsider his future role. With Butler fully fit and available next year, the two can be effective swingman help options for Curry.

The Warriors will also be looking to Jimmy Butler to take on more of a scorer’s role, whether or not Curry is present. Having effective and switchable players at the wing positions has become a prerequisite to winning NBA championships.

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