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Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler says he has his “joy back” after completing a trade to the Golden State Warriors from the Miami Heat.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 35-year-old was suspended three times by the Heat in 2025 for behavioural issues, including “conduct detrimental to the team”<\/a>, missing a flight<\/a> and walking out of a team practice<\/a>. <\/p>\n Throughout those suspensions the Heat said they would listen to trade offers for Butler, who has not played since 21 January. <\/p>\n The trade sees the Warriors give the Heat Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a 2025 protected first-round draft pick in return for Butler. <\/p>\n “All of that is behind me, moving forward,” said Butler when asked about the speculation that surrounded him over the past month. <\/p>\n “I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be wanted again. I’ve got a feeling I’m [going to] be back, in a big way, too. So I’m smiling. <\/p>\n “I’ve been going at it, I’ve been training, I’ve been doing everything I’m supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I’m in a different situation, different group of guys.”<\/p>\n Butler is yet to win the Championship but has made that a clear aim at the Warriors.<\/p>\n “I would like to say that I am a winner,” said Butler. “I haven’t won ‘it’ but I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win ‘it’ – it being a championship.”<\/p>\n There were reports, external<\/span><\/a> Butler wanted to move to the Phoenix Suns but the deal was eventually done with the Warriors and ESPN has reported, external<\/span><\/a> he has signed a two-year contract worth $111m (\u00a390m). <\/p>\n Butler is hoping to make his debut for the Warriors against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday (Sunday 01:00 GMT). <\/p>\n “He is a big-time pressure player, post-season player,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “So that would fit well in our locker room. We’ve got other guys who have been through the battles, been through the war. <\/p>\n “So I think when you put a group of guys like that together, there’s going to be a belief, there’s going to be a confidence that comes with that. And so I’m excited to see what that looks like.”<\/p>\n Butler’s move will see him line up alongside 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who has said he will watch video footage of the Heat to see how Butler’s game will suit the Warriors. <\/p>\n Asked about that, Butler said: “We good. Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n