In a post‑game press conference, Jimmy Butler III reflects on his team’s dominant third‑quarter run, highlighting key factors such as challenging shots, ball security, and transition play. He praises the offseason growth of Quentin Post, noting improved decision‑making, passing, and confidence from extra training. Butler lauds veteran Brandon "BP" for his recent two‑game surge, emphasizing confidence, shooting, playmaking, and defensive hustle. He extols the squad’s depth, describing it as both a strength for his team and a “scary” advantage for opponents, and commends J.K. for high‑level defense and all‑around contributions. Butler contrasts the current season’s settled, role‑clear atmosphere with last year’s sprint‑to‑the‑finish vibe, emphasizing camaraderie, smiles, and a healthy team culture. He discusses his mentorship role, helping younger players stay level‑headed and confident, and mentions his communication with Al Horford (referred to as “Kaminga”) regarding offseason decisions. Finally, Butler reflects on his own evolution from a 3‑and‑D specialist to a more versatile player, balancing personal improvement with team needs.
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Jimmy, you guys really got rolling in the third quarter. You dominated coming out of halftime. What did you think the biggest key was in that sequence?
Challenging shots, being in gaps, not turning the ball over. That's always good for us. We get to set our defense and get back in transition. And like any other team, it always helps to make shots.
Jimmy, what are the biggest adjustments or growth development that you've seen from Quentin Post compared to last season?
I think his decision-making, his passing, getting his feet set on screens. And then just like last season, you know, it's a little bit more, the confidence he has whenever he's out there on the floor shooting the ball, putting the ball on the ground. That's real growth. And it's just because he's been putting the time in over the summer and training camp. He's so comfortable and, with any 4 guys that you put out there.
Jimmy, Steve had said last— before last night's game that Brandon was maybe pressing a little bit, but he's put together 2 pretty great games on both ends the last 2 nights. And can 2 games like that really put somebody— give somebody momentum and just say, get them rolling, so to speak?
I sure hope so. I mean, we have the utmost confidence in BP, and I'm pretty damn sure he has a lot of confidence in himself. You know, just play basketball the right way, play hard as hell, shoot the ball when you're open, which he can shoot the hell out of the ball. Make plays for others whenever you're not open. Hustle back on defense like he did on and save the bucket. Keep rolling them off and putting them together. We— he could do that.
How much do you love the depth and the different scorers you have and playmakers on this group?
You know, me and GP was just talking about that. How deep this team really is. And, you know, we don't have certain guys back yet or in full motion of what they could and will be doing. It's a good thing for us, and it's a scary thing for everybody else. Jimmy, what did you see from J.K. today? He got the assignment on James Harden, defended Kawhi Leonard quite a bit. What did you see from him tonight?
Confidence, man.
He's major. He's key in what we're trying to do this season on both sides of the floor. I love it when he's guarding at a high level. Love it even more whenever he's making plays and scoring and rebounding, all of that good stuff. He's been playing off the charts to start this year. I myself want him to keep going, keep being aggressive, keep attacking, keep taking that challenge on the defensive end. And we as a whole need him to do just that.
How different or similar does this feel to your guys' sprint to the finish line last year? I mean, you know, I mean, does it feel like a similar type vibe or a more settled type vibe?
I think it's very settling. I think everybody know their role. Everybody know what they're supposed to be doing, where they're supposed to be on the floor. I don't know. It's just, it's fun. A lot of smiles, joking around. That's the way that the game is supposed to be. That's the atmosphere that you need to have if you want to make a deep run. You got to love being around one another. I think we have that at the highest level. We're good. And I don't say good in a complacent way. I say good, like everybody's happy. Hey Jimmy, are you aware that before you got here, there was always a lot of concern about the non-Stef minutes when he was on the bench, and that kind of talk has kind of quieted down since you got here. I think that's a good thing that I can be trusted to run the offense and while Batman's out the game, but we got, we got so many different people that can do that. You just gotta, you know, calm the game down, that organized chaos that he creates. It's a great thing for our team, but there's only one player that can do that. And he wears number 30. For everybody else, let's not turn the ball over. Let's not shoot from the logo like he does and get the ball where it needs to go. Oh, one fast thing. Did you talk to Horford when he was deciding what to do in the offseason? Did you? I did not. We had some hell of a battles back in my days over in the Eastern Conference. So I just knew, when he was here, if he was here, he would help us in a, in a major way. And if my memory serves me correctly, he's undefeated on the year.
Jimmy Butler, Kaminga question. You've kind of really clearly made a point to kind of talk to him. Just saw you talking to him just now. Did you like circle him maybe this off season or as things were going on with his negotiations, whatever, like you're, you want to make sure that he hears from you, he understands what you're saying and thinking?
Yeah. I mean, there are so many people that are in his corner. I'm one of them. There's so many other individuals in this organization, on this team, on the coaching staff as well that want him to be great. And it's okay to make mistakes. You just got to listen. You know, sometimes it may not always come off the way that you want it to, but I tell him, I promise it's in, it's in good, like, faith. Like, nobody's just yelling at you to yell at you. And he's happy. He's joyful. He knows that he's playing at a high level. He knows that everybody wants him to continue to do that. And I'm just here to make sure that he stays level-headed. In that similar vein, you've taken a lot of the young guys under your wing. Is it exciting to see them take this leap this season? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, hell, us older guys, I guess, are on our way out the league, but these, these new young guys, they got potential to be great for a very long time. And I think it's just our job to be really good vets to them. Like we've had in the past, set them up for success, give them all the confidence in the world, knowing that some of these key role players are going to be the reason that we win a championship.
Jimmy, over here. About 10 years ago, you had one of the best one-season improvements that I can remember. You kind of came in as this 3-and-D role player, and then you really—
I came in as a what?
3-and-D role player.
3 and maybe just defense, not 3 and D.
It was a big topic that year. You shot 40% from 3, of whether that was going to continue.
1.5 per game.
But then you had this big improvement. You added the isolation game and the pick and roll, and you did that as you're with a bunch of veterans around you. J.K.'s kind of in that same situation. How— what is it like balancing your own personal improvement, your own career as an ascending player with what the team needs from you in that moment?
Whatever you're doing out there, it just needs to add up to winning. Are you making winning plays? Whether you're scoring 50 or getting 30 assists or 10 steals or no steals, no offense. When you're out there, are you making winning plays? Yes, you grow your game. You don't ever want to come back the exact same player. You want to work on your stuff in the offseason, but no matter if you're scoring, defending, rebounding, getting the ball where it needs to go, none of it matters if you're not winning. So I would like to think back in those days, I was trying my best to help my team win. Same thing here. Same thing that I go through JK with. Like, when you're out there on the floor, are you winning your minutes? And I think as of late, he's been doing it.
