NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: ROCKETS vs WARRIORS

April 28, 2025

Jimmy Butler

Game 4 - Postgame Media Conference

Warriors 109, Rockets 106

Q. When Dray came in, he said quarters one through three you couldn't move. Something clicked in the fourth quarter? What was it that clicked? Did the pain go away?

JIMMY BUTLER III: I thought it was winning time. Doing certain things that the team needed me to do to go out there and help win finally. I started moving a little bit better.

Happy to be able to go out there and compete with my guys.

Q. Is that Playoff Jimmy?

JIMMY BUTLER III: We not going to do this.

It's just part of the game. Your body starts to warm up, you start to match a little bit better, you gain confidence. People start talking to you. Then good things happen.

Q. You say people start talking to you. You talking about Dillon Brooks?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Yes.

Q. Anything you want to share that he said?

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, no, no. I mean, I like it. We all like it when people start chirping. It's been this way this entire series. I don't think it's going to change.

We're going to go out there, we're going to compete. We're going to do what we're supposed to do in Houston.

Q. Could you describe the final rebound. What did you see there?

JIMMY BUTLER III: I saw that I wasn't battling with Adams the last play, so I was able to go up there and be a semi-athlete. But I wanted to rebound. I told Dray, if you get a stop, I will get the rebound. He got the stop and I got the rebound.

Q. What were the past four, five days like after the fall? How close did you feel on Saturday?

JIMMY BUTLER III: A lot of pain. I'm not going to lie to you. My dog Armando has been working every minute and hour off the hour to make sure I was able to play. He's been doing it since I went down. The training staff here has been incredible. My teammates incredible making sure I was okay, checking in on me.

Today I woke up and I was good enough, so I was able to go out there and compete.

Q. Kerr said if this was a regular season, you might be out for a week or more. Is that essentially true?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Yeah, I would like to think so. I'm not going to say that I'm not hurting. It's a good pain whenever it's all towards winning. I feel like they got me here to help do something special. If I'm out there on the floor, I'm expected to produce and help win. I'm glad I was able to do that tonight.

Q. Did it hurt, the bump to the floor?

JIMMY BUTLER III: A couple times. I'm a big boy. I'm like 35 years of age now. I know how to handle those type of things. Get some more treatment, get some rest. Domino's, coffee, kids. That's the formula to success.

Q. On Saturday Steve compared you to Andre Iguodala in terms of being on the bench and helping. What was it like to watch them win without you? What was your role on Saturday? Tell us about the fur coat.

JIMMY BUTLER III: That's allo right there. You all go to allo and get you some of that stuff.

I think it's a crazy comparison. I was able to play with Dre back in my Miami days. To get to know him, know how he goes about everything, it's all about winning, doing the right things.

To see my guys go out there and get a Dub, it doesn't surprise me. I see how everybody works on their game every single day. Doing the right things, putting the same winning stuff into, like, this bucket. When it's time to tip that bucket over, all that winning comes out.

I hate to give Buddy a compliment, so I'm not going to (smiling). But No. 7 on our team really brought the defensive mentality tonight, made some big shots. He stinks. I just got to add that (smiling).

Q. Steve said the spacing is crucial for Steph to get the defenders off him. How do you see how that's going for you to create space?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Space or no space, Steph is going to Steph. I see it on Instagram all the time. He's going to make incredible shots. He's going to get the ball to everybody where they're comfortable in space.

He has the most difficult job in this league I would like to think. He handles it with grace. He's always smiling. Teammate of the year. He's great for a reason.

Q. In your Playoff experience, is there a point in a series when it's like we know we got 'em? If so, have you reached that point yet?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Yes, there is a point. When you win four games. We got one more to get. You can't let your guard down at all. It's been a dogfight damn near every game. It could go either way.

I'm glad the way that it's going is for the Warriors.

Q. We didn't get to talk to you after the injury. Have you ever had an injury like that before? Did you have any issues with how it happened?

JIMMY BUTLER III: No. I mean, I fell on my tailbone before, but not as hard as I hit it that time. Didn't like it. Wasn't a great feeling. More than anything, I just wanted to play.

This is the best time of the year for everybody. This is why you go through what you go through. So to be able to miss a game, I don't like it, but I'm back. I'm back in a big way.

Q. Do you have to wear a pad or anything like that?

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, no pad for me. I'm not Steph. I don't need that (smiling).

Q. What is it going to take to close things out in Houston?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Some more togetherness, some better rebounding, some shot-making. That always helps. More than anything, just staying poised, knowing that there are going to be some techs, there's definitely going to be that, but keeping everybody in the game. That's what we need to do.

Q. Draymond gets the early fouls and that early tech. What did you see from him?

JIMMY BUTLER III: And a flagrant.

Q. What did you see from him and his ability to stay on the court and be there for the last play?

JIMMY BUTLER III: I'm not even going to say that it's growth. He knows we must have Draymond on the floor in order to win. The amount of poise he has when everything he does, it's always blown out of proportion. If it was anybody else, it wouldn't be that.

To stay so calm, to come out there, get stops, kick us off on the offensive side of the ball. You're a special human being. That's why he's the hustle man of the year. Remember that.

Q. You and Dillon got into it. Looked like you were having fun, back to the playground.

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, no.

Q. What was it like out there? Did you enjoy that element of the game?

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, we're not having fun. Give me this. I don't like Dillon Brooks. We're never having fun. I'm a fierce competitor. He's a fierce competitor. There ain't nothing fun about that.

Q. When you look at some of the pictures, looked like he was trying to have fun, but you wasn't going for it?

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, I'm not going for that.

I don't think anybody is trying to be friends with anybody on either team. That's for sure. Fun is winning. Fun is competing. It's going to be fun when we get four.

Q. How would you describe that second quarter where I think you gave them 15 points off a turnover, reviews...

JIMMY BUTLER III: Part of the game. Knowing that's going to happen. This game is a game of runs. They're going to have theirs. We're going to have ours. Like I always say, stay poised. Stop turning the ball over in the first place and you won't have to worry about it. Know in the game we're good enough and have enough.

Q. You said you got your joy back. Is that joy because of winning or because of winning with this group of guys?

JIMMY BUTLER III: Definitely because of winning. Definitely because I'm able to be who I am, who I've made myself out to be for the last couple of years in this league.

More than anything, it's fun. I get to play basketball. I get to come into work knowing I'm going to be able to play in these games, play in the Playoffs, help us do something special.

Q. How did you come up with the Steph bat light?

JIMMY BUTLER III: The bat signal, it was my idea. But that's who he is, to me, to us, to y'all, to the world.

Q. Is Alfred going to get any love anytime soon?

JIMMY BUTLER III: I don't know. Who do you think Alfred would be?

Q. Buddy.

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, no, no. That is not the right answer (smiling).

Q. Buddy said he's Alfred.

JIMMY BUTLER III: No, no. Buddy is not in this. Buddy is the Joker or something. He's the evil man.

Thank you.