Jimmy Butler is sending a clear message to the rest of the playoff teams – he isn’t scared of anyone.
The Warriors took down the Grizzlies in epic fashion to punch a ticket to the first round of the playoffs against the Rockets.
Younger, more inexperienced teams like Houston would, but Butler is absolutely making the most of it.
“I love having a target on my back,” Butler said to The Athletic when asked about having to keep the younger contenders at bay. “I think I’ve had it the last couple of years over in the East, and (the Warriors) are gonna always have it, until 30 (Stephen Curry) and 23 (Draymond Green) are gone.”
“They’re always gonna be the squad to beat. Everybody always fears them. Everybody always knows that they’re not out of any game, out of any series, and I love to be a part of it. I ain’t scared of nobody. You know me. I’m not scared of nobody. I know what I’m capable of. Like I always say, now is the time to show it, but I know what they’re capable of more than anything. When you’ve got some hellified ballers in there that are confident, that accept their role, and they do whatever we ask them to do to win, man, that’s hard to beat. That’s very hard to beat.”
After telling the media he isn’t scared of anybody, Butler then showed a softer side and admitted he’s striving for greatness, but not just for himself.
“Look, I’m not gonna say I’m not hungry, but I’m doing this for Steph,” Butler told The Athletic. “I’m doing this for Dray. I’m doing this for these guys. As much as I want to win a championship, I want Dray to win another one. I want Steph to win another one. I know I ain’t got mine yet, but they deserve it. They’ve been putting this city and this organization on their back for a very long time, and I’m glad that I can be here to try and do something special.”
