Jimmy Butler Told Warriors 'I’m Only Here to Win' After NBA Deadline Trade from Heat

Jimmy Butler only cares about one thing, and it's... winning.

At least that was the message he delivered to his new Golden State Warriors teammates after being traded to the team ahead of February's deadline.

"When I walked in, I was like, 'Yo, look man, I'm only here to win,'" Butler told Marc J. Spears of Andscape. "'I don't care about nothing else. I don't care about points. I don't care about shots. I don't care about none of that. I'm only here to win and I've always only been places to win. So, whatever y'all need me to do, y'all let me know. Show me some grace because I'm new until I get the hang of this thing. But the one thing about everything is my energy is at an all-time high because I'm here and ain't s--t changed. The goal is still remaining the same and that's winning a championship.'"

To this point, the wins have been coming. The Dubs are 12-1 in games Butler has played for them, with the veteran forward averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game with his new team.

Finally, the Warriors have something they've lacked since Klay Thompson's late-career regression and eventual free-agency departure—a true No. 2 option behind Stephen Curry.

And Butler had a team more equipped to compete for a title than the one he left on acrimonious terms, the Miami Heat.

"I saw a group that wanted me to be a part of it," Butler told Spears. "That's all you ever wanted to be is wanted in this life, not just in this league. In anything, you want to be wanted. Needed is like a necessity. Wanted is like somebody's choosing to bring you aboard this. I think that's the ultimate sign of respect. I talked to both [Curry and Draymond Green], but I've talked to both of them for a while. But they said, 'We can do something special. We need what you bring. The winning mentality, the hard nose on both sides of the ball.' I think that's what you want. That's what they told me that I bring and I'm like, 'Come on with it.'"

In the process, the Warriors have climbed to No. 6 in the Western Conference, currently clinging to the final guaranteed playoff berth. Whether they have the firepower to compete against the top contenders in the West remains to be seen, but for now, there's no doubt that his addition has brought a positive vibe shift to Golden State.