Appearing on Thursday at a Warriors event to announce their new jersey patch sponsor, star wing Jimmy Butler provided an update on his recovery from last season’s right ACL tear, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Butler told reporters that he’s “making some incredibly progress” and is “very happy” with how the process has played out so far, adding that he’s about a month and a half away from starting to run.
“There are things that I used to be able to do that I can’t do right now,” Butler said. “I actually can dunk a basketball if I jump off my left leg — I just can’t land on my right. I haven’t tried it, but I’m pretty sure I can still dunk a basketball.”
Butler also had nothing but praise for the way the Warriors operate, suggesting he has no desire to leave Golden State. The 36-year-old is entering the final year of his current contract but will become extension-eligible on February 6.
“It’s not good, it’s great,” Butler said of the Warriors’ organization. “Legitimately, it’s the best. You don’t realize it until you’ve been in other places, and I’m not talking down on anybody that are like quite lesser than. You’re talking about the way that you all run everything, the people that you have around.
“Obviously, the guys that get to rep the uniform, they just do everything the right way, the winning way. It definitely shows in everything that we do here. I’m grateful to be a part of it now. When I say I don’t want to be anywhere else, this is it.”
We have more from around the Pacific:
- After agreeing to terms on a four-year, maximum-salary deal with the Lakers, Austin Reaves admitted to Dan Woike of The Athletic that a “couple of times” during the process he wasn’t sure if he’d re-sign with Los Angeles. He was thrilled to get a deal done with the only NBA team he has ever played for. “I mean, it was a breath of fresh air because I hadn’t stopped thinking about where I was going to be. And it’s just like a sigh of relief,” Reaves told Woike. “I mean, regardless of whatever played out, I’m obviously grateful and in a good position to take care of the people I love. My heart’s been in L.A. Every morning I (woke) up, I (was) just like, ‘I hope we can get this done today.'”
- No. 30 overall pick Koa Peat isn’t a can’t-miss prospect and likely won’t be a day-one contributor, but he’ll represent a good test of the Suns‘ ability to develop young talent, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic. Given that Phoenix doesn’t have a ton of star power or the draft picks necessary to add elite young talent, player development has to be the team’s top skill as it looks to return to contention, says Haller. Suns general manager Brian Gregory cited Peat’s high character, competitiveness, ability to attack the rim, and winning pedigree as reasons why the club wanted him.
- Count French big man Narcisse Ngoy among those surprised he was selected in the second round of this week’s draft. According to Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter links), the No. 57 pick wasn’t expected to be drafted by the Clippers or any other team and still expects to play for the Auburn Tigers next season. Murray says the Clippers’ front office has been in touch with Ngoy and the two sides are discussing their plans. As Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress explains (via Twitter), a recent NCAA rule change would allow Ngoy to play for Auburn and essentially function as a domestic draft-and-stash, since he was automatically draft-eligible this year (rather than declaring as an early entrant) and has college eligibility remaining.
