Jimmy Butler’s Sixers WFC Debut Delivered the Goods

Published: Nov 16th, 2018 · 10:24 PM EST

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher, USA TODAY

It was another Brett Brown “blow another ridiculously large lead” masterclass for Jimmy Butler’s Sixers debut on Wednesday. Somehow, Brown continues to ride the “Popovich coaching tree” pedigree into infinite employment as the Sixers’ head coach, no matter how often he turns comfortable wins into losses.

Tonight, anyway, the Sixers’ trade for Butler inoculated Brown from his own disastrous inability to hold a double-digit lead. Butler’s line tonight was 12 shots made from 15 taken with seven assists and a +12 for the minutes he was on the floor for the 38 minutes he played. He finished with 28 points.

Brown was appropriately complimentary of his new All-Star: “(H)e was incredibly efficient, physical, made some tough shots…that’s a fantastic debut, he was our bell ringer tonight.”

The Twitter accolades of Butler’s home debut as a 76er were appropriate and contained multitudes:

Home debut ends with a win, how's it feel?

"Lovely." 😁

Jimmy Butler helped the team to a win and caught up with @SerenaWinters after the game to talk about playing in front of the home crowd. pic.twitter.com/JddN5VrB8M

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 17, 2018

Daily News | Sixers beat Jazz in Jimmy Butler’s 28-point home debut https://t.co/mu7I2BwRAO

— Philly Daily News (@PhillyDailyNews) November 17, 2018

Ben Simmons had this pretty, perfectly weighted dish to Jimmy Butler for the layup, but it’s the way the pair looked and nodded at each other that I’m sure is melting every Philadelphian’s heart. https://t.co/CjTGCEIFeb

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) November 17, 2018

I think I speak for every Sixers fan when I fantasize about Jimmy Butler’s time on this team with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and think, you know what:

That’s how it feels, anyway.

Philip Keidel

Formerly a Featured Columnist on the Philadelphia Phillies and Manchester City Football Club for Bleacher Report. Full-time attorney, part-time pundit. Follow me @philkeidel on Twitter.