Copyright yardbarker
Jimmy Butler has been a supporter of Jonathan Kuminga from the beginning. Through fluctuating playing time and noise from outside critics, the Texas native has maintained a deep belief in Kuminga and the trajectory of his career. Coming into the season, Butler was familiar with the intense offseason Kuminga had contract-wise. It was a challenge for Kuminga to balance growing his game while trying to fit in the Warriors’ system — but Butler has been in his shoes before. Prior to Butler’s trade to Golden State last season, Kuminga looked primed for a larger role. Butler’s arrival threatened Kuminga’s shot at steady playing time, but the 23-year-old knew what adding a player like him could do — not just for the team, but for his individual development. “I like that guy,” Kuminga said, pointing at Butler in the locker room after his first game as a Warrior last February. “I think it’s (being teammates with Jimmy) actually great for me, being around him, trying to pick up some of the stuff he does. I feel like I see myself having a similar type of game.” Both players are 6-foot-7 physical wings who can defend and attack the rim at a high level. Kuminga recognized the similarities between his path and Jimmy’s, and respected the work Butler put in to reach his status in the league. But that version of Jimmy Butler, which has given the Warriors a newfound hope, didn’t appear out of nowhere. Before Jimmy erupted into an All-Star and Most Improved Player winner, he was in a situation very much familiar to Jonathan Kuminga’s. The Early Days Jimmy Butler entered the league in 2011 as a 22-year-old with a lot to prove. He wanted to make a name for himself, which was difficult at first, due to having a championship-contending roster with established players. The young Bull was playing behind that year’s MVP, Derrick Rose, along with Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. He didn’t start once during his rookie year, averaging just 2.6 points and 8.5 minutes a game. In other words, he struggled to crack the rotation. The 2011 iteration of the Chicago Bulls didn’t ask for Butler’s scoring or offensive firepower. What the team did utilize was his tall, athletic frame to fill a less glamorous void the team needed. Butler earned his keep by doing the dirty work. He was tasked with being a tenacious defender, soaring for rebounds, and effectively playing off teammates.
