What should have been a straightforward win for the Warriors turned into a mess after the game. Jimmy Butler’s triple-double was overshadowed by a last-second shot that really upset the Portland Trail Blazers players — and it looked like it got under Butler’s skin too.
A video from after the game showed a tense moment between him and coach Steve Kerr, who later revealed he was the one who told Butler to take that shot. Here’s the whole story behind that unexpected twist.
Steve Kerr Explains Why He Told Jimmy Butler to Break NBA’s Unwritten Rule
As the clock wound down in the Warriors’ 130-120 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Jimmy Butler was in a bit of a bind. With Golden State comfortably ahead and only a few ticks left, he had to choose between holding the ball or taking a shot.
Usually, teams would just let the clock run out in these moments. But after a quick glance at Steve Kerr on the sideline, Butler decided to take an open jumper, which ruffled a few feathers among the Trail Blazers players.
Footage from after the game showed Jimmy Butler frustrated during a brief but intense talk with Steve Kerr. Kerr later explained his reasoning, saying, “I told him, we don’t do shot clock violations.
The Warriors are sitting pretty with a 12-1 record when Butler plays, highlighting his significant role in their success.
If there’s a shot clock differential, we always shoot.” Kerr’s firm stance on this philosophy put Butler in a tricky situation, even though he seemed a little reluctant on the court.
Jimmy Butler’s Triple-Double Overshadowed by Controversial Shot
Butler had a standout performance that evening! He scored 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and tallied 10 assists, marking his second triple-double this season and his first as a Warrior. His previous triple-double was on December 16 while he was with the Miami Heat.
While all this is happening, Stephen Curry keeps shining this season, hitting five 3-pointers and bringing his total to 251. This is his 11th season with 250+ threes, which is an NBA record. He’s just two 3-pointers away from being the first player to hit 4,000 career triples.
