Lajae Jones has not played an NBA game yet, but he has already learned an important rookie lesson: veterans do not give up jersey numbers for cheap.
The Warriors rookie wanted to buy Jimmy Butler’s jersey number, and Butler responded exactly like Jimmy Butler would. When Jones asked about the number, Butler shut it down with a grin:
“You want to buy my number? You can’t afford that, man.”
Jones tried to keep the dream alive by joking that he would take out a loan. Butler’s counteroffer? Twenty-five million dollars.
Warriors rookie Lajae Jones wanted to buy Jimmy Butler’s jersey number 😂
“You want to buy my number? You can’t afford that man.”
“I’ll take out a loan.”
“For $25 million you can have my number then.” pic.twitter.com/9VSWr7cTar
— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) June 28, 2026
That is not a negotiation. That is a rookie tax with luxury tax attached.
Jones, selected by Golden State with the No. 54 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, is entering a locker room full of veterans, personalities and championship résumés. Butler, meanwhile, has never been shy about setting the tone. Whether it is practice intensity, playoff competitiveness or a jersey-number conversation, he has a way of making even small moments feel like a test.
The funny part is that Jones handled it well. He did not back down, at least verbally.
“I’ll take out a loan” is a solid first NBA quote.
It shows confidence, humor and just enough rookie innocence to make the veterans laugh. Unfortunately for him, Butler priced No. 10 like beachfront property in the Bay Area.
