Former NBA star Paul Pierce has stoked Dwyane Wade’s criticism of Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler.
Jimmy Butler changed the Golden State Warriors when it was traded from the Miami Heat Mid season. He was the perfect complement to Steph Curry, but that all changed when the four-time champion was ruled out with an injury to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Warriors needed Butler to step up with a stronger approach to keep their playoff dreams alive, but that didn’t happen.
Butler scored only 17 points in the Warriors Elimination Loss and shot just 4-11 points from the field.
He was heavily criticized by former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade, who labeled it as a “bad crime” and held Butler responsible.
Former NBA champion Paul Pierce was asked about Dwyane Wade’s comments on Jimmy Butler and he didn’t object.
During the discussion about the FS1 talk, Pierce said he saw Butler play at a higher level, questioning why the Warriors needed him the most and why they couldn’t.
Pierce said: “Absolutely right. This is what they brought Jimmy. We went back to what he did in the bubble, how he played compared to the Celtics. I went to those games that were different Jimmy.
“Now, he may not be able to do it consistently at night like he once did.
“It was when Jimmy started swinging and we didn’t see it.
Pierce points out that if someone is the right place to rate Jimmy Butler, it’s Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade.
He added: “Dwayne is right. You know. When the ex-Heat legend calls out the guy who did it multiple times in the Heat uniform, he knows what he’s talking about.
“He saw Jimmy’s night and night out, so I have to agree with Dwyane Wade because he knows what it looks like.”
There is one element in Jimmy Butler’s argument that goes a little under the radar, even if players don’t provide it as an excuse.
Butler was injured against the Houston Rockets.
Pierce warned that at the time of his injury, if Butler returned, he would not return as the same player. And it turns out that this is exactly what it is.