Jimmy Butler has found a new way to contribute to the Golden State Warriors while recovering from his ACL injury, and Steve Kerr couldn’t help but laugh at his latest antics.
The 37-year-old showed up to Monday’s 138-87 demolition of the New Orleans Pelicans dressed exactly like a member of the coaching staff, sporting the same grey Warriors sweater and black pants as Kerr and his assistants.
Butler also brought a clipboard with him, writing a simple three-word message for his teammates: “PASS TO STEPH.”
Kerr revealed the outfit was actually something he had jokingly suggested just minutes before Butler walked out wearing it.
“It was funny because I don’t know how this happened, but I told [assistant coach] Khalid [Robinson] about five minutes before the game, I told Khalid, ‘One of these days, we should have Jimmy dress up like us’ because he’s always got some great outfit on and something fashionable, and we wear our quarter-zips and sweaters. I said, ‘We should really get him to dress like a coach one day,’ and then he walks out, and he’s dressed like us,” Kerr said. “I turned to Khalid, I said, ‘Did you tell him to do that?’ and he goes, ‘No.’ It was, I guess, mental telepathy or something. We’re on the same page on that. He was enjoying himself.”
Kerr was also impressed with Butler’s commitment to his new role, although he suspected there was a little bit of mockery involved.
“He was really acting the part, but I also realized he was mocking us, so it hurt a little bit,” Kerr joked.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg thinks Jimmy should just stick to his day job.
“I didn’t like his advice,” Lendeborg said. “I didn’t like it out there. He looked very weird wearing the coach’s stuff. I didn’t even notice that they all wear the same thing until today. So, I mean, I’m glad that he got to do it. I’m glad that he’s having fun. He said he was going to get a tech for us tonight; he didn’t. So, shame on him, but it’s all good.”
Lendeborg added that Butler wasn’t contributing too much.
“I didn’t learn anything,” Lendeborg said. “All I learned was once you’re on the court with Steph, give Steph the ball. That’s all I learned. Bad coaching by him, man.”