Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Buddy Hield joked about having disdain for teammate Jimmy Butler following the Dubs’ 119-109 season-opening win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
When asked by a reporter to describe his relationship with Butler, Hield replied, “You can’t figure it out already? I just don’t like him, simple as that. No, Jimmy’s cool, man. Jimmy’s cool. He’s been that spark for this team and he just brings a unique vibe that every team needs.”
Butler was the driving force behind Tuesday’s victory, scoring a team-high 31 points, which included going 16-for-16 from the free-throw line.
Hield also played a big role in his own right, leading all players in bench scoring with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
Both Hield and Butler were newcomers to the Warriors last season, as Hield spent the entire year with Golden State, while the Dubs acquired Butler from the Miami Heat prior to the trade deadline.
The duo became fast friends, often eliciting laughter from reporters with their press conference antics. The Warriors even paid homage to their memorable media sessions with a bobblehead that was given out prior to a preseason game last week:
As much as their personalities mesh off the court, it can be argued that their skill sets on the court are even more complementary.
Butler, 36, is a six-time All-Star who has thrived over the years thanks to his defensive ability, mid-range game and penchant for getting to the free throw line.
After leading the Heat to a pair of NBA Finals appearances, Butler provided a jolt to the Warriors upon his arrival last season.
In games Butler played for Golden State after the trade, the Warriors went 23-7, and they went on to reach the second round of the playoffs.
While Butler is a highly versatile player, Hield is relatively one-dimensional. However, Hield excels at that one dimension, which is long-range shooting.
The 32-year-old guard averages 3.0 three-pointers made per game in his career and shoots 39.7 percent from three-point range.
After being a starter for most of his career with the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers, Hield settled into a bench role with the Warriors last season.
Appearing in all 82 games, he poured in 203 trifectas, which ranked top 20 in the league despite playing less than 23 minutes per contest.
Both Butler and Hield bring talents that tend to translate to winning basketball, so it came as no surprise that they both contributed heavily to Tuesday’s win.
