The Golden State Warriors were dealt a massive blow when Jimmy Butler suffered an ACL tear during their game against the Miami Heat last Monday. With Golden State still in 8th place in the crowded Western Conference ladder, many agree that the Warriors’ season is over.
Butler was the Dubs’ second-leading scorer, leader and best two-way player. Overall, he was the Robin to Stephen Curry’s Batman. But just because they lost the sidekick doesn’t mean they have to wave the white flag. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins says the Dubs just need to make a phone call and get themselves a new second star.
“It’s time. It’s the perfect timing. If I’m Steph, right now, I’m getting my lightskin a– green eyes, and I’m picking up the fu—g phone. You know who I’m calling? I’m calling Giannis and saying ‘Hey man, what are you waiting on? Damn it, I need you, and you need me. Let’s make it happen, right now,” said Perkins on the recent episode of the “Road Trippin’” podcast.
Call Giannis the way they called KD in 2016
The Warriors are among the teams linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo, though nothing concrete has been discussed. But with Butler out, Perk believes the Warriors have to manufacture the situation themselves by initiating that call to Giannis. He said calling for help is nothing new to the Dubs, who, after an epic collapse in the 2016 NBA Finals, dialed the best help they could get to beat LeBron.
“Remember, they lost their 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and guess what? Who got on a call and called Kevin Durant? Draymond. Motherf—r, put your pride aside and make that call. I guarantee that if it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo would listen to, and he want to act on it, let Steph call his motherf—g phone. Remember it was two, three All-Stars ago, maybe a little longer, when they were doing the captains, and they was picking? Who Giannis pick first?” Perk added.
It can be recalled that in 2018, Steph drafted Giannis for his All-Star team after LeBron James used his first pick to select Kyrie Irving. The following season, it was Giannis who was the team captain and he returned the favor by picking Steph after LeBron selected Kevin Durant No.1 overall. Perkins thinks that this connection will be the key to getting Giannis to come to “The Bay.”
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It’s okay for Giannis to leave
The main issue here, however, is that Antetokounmpo has flip-flopped on leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, or at least it appears that way. The latest intel is that he doesn’t want to leave again and the Bucks are looking to make a big splash before the trade deadline to make sure he doesn’t. But Big Perk made a case for Giannis to leave.
“If you’re Giannis and you talk about winning championships, and we talk about that window closing, it’s perfect timing. Again, I said it before, I’m gonna say it again: No one is going to be mad at Giannis Antetokounmpo if he wants out of Milwaukee,” added Perkins.
Antetokounmpo has repeatedly said his main motivation right now is to win another NBA championship. But after Damian Lillard got hurt and was traded, it’s hard to see that happening in the Deer District, at least right now.
Meanwhile, teaming up with another multiple-time MVP winner would be an interesting prospect. It might not guarantee an NBA title, but it will give him a better chance of winning again.