Jimmy Butler is already feeling the absence of Buddy Hield, his former teammate on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors star shared a screenshot on Instagram showing him FaceTiming Hield, who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks last week in the deal that brought Kristaps Porziņģis to Golden State. During the call, Hield humorously asked, “Why you trade me” alongside a crying emoji, highlighting the emotion behind the trade.
The Friendship Formed Amidst a Short Shared Tenure
Though Hield and Butler spent less than two full seasons together with the Warriors, they built a strong connection during that time. Unfortunately, the trade deadline forced them to part ways last week, leaving both players to adjust to their new circumstances away from each other.
Butler’s Season Cut Short; Hield’s Role Shifts
Butler’s season ended earlier than expected due to a torn ACL suffered last month, putting a premature halt to his contributions of 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Hield, meanwhile, saw his role on the Warriors diminish this year, averaging eight points in 17.5 minutes per game. Moving to Atlanta, he now faces the challenge of stepping into a bigger role for the Hawks as the season progresses.
