“He different, that guy.” Draymond Green’s opinion of Jimmy Butler is low-key proof that the 6x All-Star has still got it. The concern for the Golden State Warriors was if the guy known as Playoff Jimmy still existed in the 6 ft 7 guard they landed from the Miami Heat. While the playoffs are still one win far for GSW, Butler’s 38 points against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Play-In tournament showed he still has that spark in him for the NBA postseason. No wonder that a former Warriors star believes that what the 6x All-Star expected from Pat Riley’s Miami Heat was quite reasonable.

Now, if you’ve been keeping up with NBA drama, you’d know Butler’s split from Miami wasn’t exactly quiet. The core issue? Money. The Heat never offered him a two-year, $113 million extension he was reportedly eligible for. Their reasoning? Well, he had missed around a quarter of the games during his Miami stint. But whatever the rationale, the relationship crumbled beyond saving.

While some NBA experts were critical of how Butler handled things in Miami in the end, some believed Riley could, despite his reputation, have been more reasonable in his approach. But the question remains: Whose expectations of the two were justified? Well, ex-Warriors star Gilbert Arenas seems to have an answer.

During his recent appearance on VLAD TV, Gil was asked about his take on the whole Butler-Riley situation. “Jimmy is… Blue collared worker… He is the actual American average family home type of thinker…” Gil said on VLAD TV. “You want to be paid for the work you put in… I’m going to… Work my a– off… I’m going to sacrifice for the betterment of the team… It’s not about my individual stats. I’m going to go out there and, you know, take whatever you give me and I’m going to figure out how to make it work and, you know, pay me for the job I’m doing for you,” he said.

And while Arenas did acknowledge Riley’s stance, he couldn’t ignore where Jimmy Butler was coming from. He tried breaking it down from Jimmy’s side: “… Butler’s like, ‘Hey, you know what. Have you ever looked at our team… This has never been a get to the championship team, but I got us there. So whatever value you’re putting on, you better put on the fact that look at this team and look where we got.'”

Well, you don’t have to go ages back to understand how crucial the 6x All-Star alone was for Miami. In Round 1 of the 2023 playoffs, Butler didn’t just step up—he went nuclear. Dropped 56 points on the top-seeded Bucks in a massive comeback win for Miami. That wasn’t just a good game—it was historic, ranking among the top five scoring performances in NBA playoff history. But now, he 6x All-Stat will be utilising his talent for postseason heroics for the Warriors.

A closer look at how Jimmy Butler has added immense value to the Warriors

On Tuesday night, with the stakes sky-high, Stephen Curry and Butler lit up the court, combining for a jaw-dropping 75 points. And thus helping Golden State notch a hard-fought 121-116 playoff win. While it went down as a close scoreline, the message it sent was? Anything but subtle. If the rest of the league wasn’t paying attention before, they certainly are now.

Curry, as usual, came through when it mattered most. He dropped 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter alone, draining two massive threes that broke the opponent’s rhythm. But what truly turned heads was Butler’s all-around dominance. He posted 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals—oh, and let’s not forget the 18 free-throw attempts. That kind of pressure on the defense speaks volumes.

Since joining the Warriors, Butler hasn’t just fit in—he’s made his presence felt. Tuesday was a shining example. While Curry pulled defenders with his off-ball magic and pinpoint shooting, Butler bulldozed through with physicality and flair. Together, they didn’t just complement each other—they elevated one another. And here’’ the real kicker: Jimmy Butler’s aggressive edge might just be the missing piece the Warriors have been searching for in recent playoff runs. Amid such circumstances, one cannot help but wonder if Pat Riley made a mistake. Well, Gilbert Arenas, for one, seems to believe so.