Butler is the rare player whose journey has taken him from being a benchwarmer during his rookie season to becoming a team's primary option — a role that he flourished in with the Heat, where he averaged 21.0 points on 49.8 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.

The NBA season tips off tonight with a doubleheader between Western Conference contenders. First Kevin Durant and the Rockets will visit the defending champion Thunder, then Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and the Warriors travel to L.

“We have a legitimate shot. We can square up against anybody in the West. Obviously everything has to go right, healthwise. Anybody that wins a championship that is kinda like a prerequisite and we just wanna have an opportunity to show that in the playoffs.

Jimmy Butler scored 31 points, Stephen Curry added 23 and the Golden State Warriors overcame Luka Doncic’s 43-point performance to beat the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James missed a season