Jimmy Butler scores 25 in Warriors debut in rout of Bulls - ESPN

CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler went into his Golden State Warriors debut without a practice or even the benefit of going through the morning shootaround before facing the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

Butler wasn't allowed to participate in the team's morning walkthrough because not all the players in the five-team, nine-player trade that landed him with Golden State completed their physicals until late Saturday afternoon. So Butler had to make his Warriors grand opening knowing a total of three plays that head coach Steve Kerr gave him along with some new terminology.

Still, Butler looked like the player the Warriors went out and not only traded for but gave a new two-year, $111 million deal to. He made 7-of-12 shots, got to the line 13 times and scored 25 points to help the Warriors overcome a 24-point deficit and rout the Bulls 132-111 at the United Center.

The 25 points were his most in a debut for a new team as well as the most in a first game by a Warrior since Kevin Durant in 2016.

But it was the aura Butler brought to the Warriors that might have stood out the most, according to Kerr.

«I'm most impressed with his passing,» Kerr said. «His passing changes everything.… The skill, the strength, the ability to get to the free throw line.

»And in the end, it goes beyond that. Just his presence out there — he's a lion. He's a force."

Even four-time champions such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green could feel Butler's impact. For just over two quarters, Golden State (26-26) looked like it was going to sleepwalk its way to a third straight loss. The Bulls raced out to an 83-59 lead with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter.

But then Butler got to the line for two of his 11 made free throws. And then Curry exploded, scoring 22