Santos spoke after Golden State's win over Brooklyn about Butler's influence on him.
The Golden State Warriors picked up a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, and one of the more interesting sound bytes to come out of the night came from Gui Santos. The 23-year-old Brazilian forward had his first career 30-point outing, and he has quietly carved out a role on this roster.
After the game, he dropped a quote that said a lot about his development and the mentor who helped shape it.
Santos has been playing with more control and composure in the paint lately, and he explained exactly where that came from. It wasn't a Warriors coach, it was watching the craft of one Jimmy Butler.
"Of course we need to play fast, move the ball fast," Santos said. "But at the same time, under control. When we drive, when we get into the paint, we gotta just stop on two feet. I learned a lot from Jimmy [Butler]."
Mar 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) congratulates forward Gui Santos (15) after he is fouled by a Brooklyn Nets player during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn ImagesFootwork as a Philosophy
Butler's only been around this organization for around a year, but he's clearly left an impression on some of the younger guys on the roster.
"Every time he was driving to the paint, he was stopping with two feet, and after that he decides what he can do," Santos said. "So watching him allowed me to try and do that right now."
The connection makes sense when you think about it. Butler spent time with the Warriors earlier this season before heading to Miami, and Santos was paying close attention the entire time.
What he took away was footwork, patience, and the discipline to slow down when everything in the moment is telling you to speed up. For a young player still finding his footing in the NBA, that's a genuinely valuable lesson to absorb. Most young players get into the paint and immediately try to finish, but Butler's approach is different.
Why This Matters for The Warriors
He gets into the paint, plants, and then decides. The read comes after the feet are set, not before. That's what separates good paint players from great ones, and Santos is actively trying to rewire his instincts to play that way.
The Warriors have needed Santos to be reliable this season, and his growth as a decision maker in the half court helps Golden State on nights when their stars aren't available. The Butler influence is showing up in exactly the right places.
Golden State is still figuring out its identity for the final few weeks of the regular season, and contributions from younger players like Santos matter more than they might in a typical Warriors season.
Santos is still developing, but players who learn how to learn tend to stick around in this league, and Wednesday night was a good example of what that looks like in practice.