Jimmy Butler has never been shy about stepping up as a mentor, and this time, his support extends beyond the court.
Butler revealed after the Warriors win over the Pacers that he was inviting Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga over for dinner to help him navigate a rough patch offensively.
“He’s actually going to come over to my house for dinner right now,” Butler told reporters. “But the thing that I’ll tell you and I’ll tell him … You’re not going to play great every night, you’re not going to play bad every night either. You stay right in the middle and you keep working and you keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing every single day, and those days, they will even out.”
Kuminga, who finished with 5 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists in 20 minutes, has been battling inconsistency from deep, going 0 for 5 from 3-point range on the night.
Still, Butler made it clear that his value extends well beyond scoring.
“I wouldn’t say that he’s played bad,” Butler said. “He’s playing well enough on the defensive side, he’s rebounding the basketball, it’s more than just scoring, which is what I try to tell him.”
Jimmy Butler on Jonathan Kuminga’s rough night shooting:
“I tell him— You’re not going to play great every night. You’re not going to play bad every night either… you stay right in the middle and keep working.”
Butler is having Kuminga’s over at his place for dinner tonight. pic.twitter.com/qpKLCjAjUa
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) November 10, 2025
The 21-year-old forward started the season strong with four straight double-digit outings, but his shot has cooled as Golden State’s offensive flow shifted. Butler, however, remains confident in Kuminga’s approach and potential.
“I like all the threes that he takes … It’s a make-or-miss league — if he’s making them, we don’t have this conversation,” Butler noted. “I just want him to keep that confidence high knowing that he belongs in this league, knowing that he’s a starter on this team and it’s all going to turn around.”
Butler posted 21 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in the win as Golden State moved to 6 and 5 on the season. For him, the dinner invitation wasn’t just about food, it was about passing on perspective to a young player still finding his rhythm.
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