Golden State Warriors

Despite a rough start to the season for the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green is confident in his squad after landing Jimmy Butler before the trade deadline.

Green said that Butler as already helped turn things around and he know thinks the Dubs could be on their way to a championship.

"I think that we were kind of headed in the wrong direction, thinking we figured it out and never figuring it out throughout the course of this year," Green said on TNT before Sunday's All-Star Game. "Since he's been here, we've walked into every game thinking and believing we're going to win that game.

"And that goes a long way in this league. When you walk in the game like, 'Aw man, we're probably going to lose this game,' it's not good. He's brought back that belief, and I think we're going to win the championship."

"We are going to win the championship." 🔥

- Draymond Green pic.twitter.com/c5ROOZyxlf

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 17, 2025

The Warriors traded Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick for Butler earlier this month in a five-team deal. The six-time All-Star spent six years with the Miami Heat but ultimately felt it was time for a change, and he got it. 

Butler has played four games for Golden State so far and the Warriors have gone 3-1 with him on the floor, the only loss being a down-to-the-wire thriller against the Dallas Mavericks.

While it's a good start, it might be a bit of a stretch to declare the Warriors as championship favorites right now. Golden State is still in 10th place in the Western Conference at 28-27 and will need a strong finish to avoid missing the playoffs entirely.

If the first few games of the Butler era in Golden State are an indicator of what's to come, making the playoffs should be no problem for the Warriors.

Green noted that his team has had new life since Butler's arrival, and it seems Butler might have some new life of his own. In his final games with the Heat, Butler struggled, putting up just 11.4 points per game in five contests last month. Since joining the Warriors, Butler has averaged 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

It's a small sample size, but Butler seems to be playing with a newfound energy, and that could be what Golden State needs to turn it into a championship contender.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry gave potential No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and quarterback Cam Ward his game-worn, autographed jersey after the Dubs' road game at the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

The interaction was featured on the latest video from Ward's YouTube channel.

Ward and Curry met before the game while the four-time NBA champion was warming up on the court. The ex-Miami star then sat courtside as the Mavs won 111-107.

After the game, Curry gave Ward his jersey and posed for a picture. Ward then met Kyrie Irving, who led Dallas with 42 points.

The latest B/R NFL Scouting Department mock draft has Ward going No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans. He's listed eighth overall on the B/R NFL big board and first among quarterbacks.

Golden State Warriors superstar guard and future Basketball Hall of Famer Stephen Curry admitted this week that retirement is on his mind more now than ever before.

Speaking to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, Curry noted that while he isn't ready to step away from the sport he loves yet, his future is indeed something he has been thinking about:

"You think about that more and more. I’m not at the farewell yet. That’s just part of time. If you’re fighting human nature or fighting the inevitable in that, then … I don’t think you’re handling it right. Because you need a little bit of fear of what’s coming, what an end might look like, to inform decisions that you’re making now and appreciate what’s going on right now."

Curry, who will turn 37 on March 13, is in the midst of his 16th NBA season, all of which have been spent with the Warriors.

This weekend, he will play in the NBA All-Star Game, marking the 11th time he has been named an All-Star during his illustrious career.

That is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Curry's accomplishments, though, as he is also a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, two-time NBA scoring champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP.

Over 1,002 career regular-season games, Curry owns averages of 24.7 points, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 3.9 three-pointers made and 1.5 steals per contest, while shooting 47.1 percent from beyond the arc and 42.4 percent from beyond the arc.

A strong argument can be made for Curry being the best shooter in NBA history, as his 3,948 career three-point field goals made are an all-time record.

Even at his advancing age, Curry has remained productive this season, averaging 23.4 points, 6.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 three-pointers made and 1.0 steal, however, his efficiency has taken a hit.

Curry's 43.4 percent field goal percentage is the worst of his career aside from the 2019-20 season when he was limited to just five games due to injury.

While that could be cause for concern to some degree, Curry is still shooting 39.0 from deep, meaning he remains a more than capable three-point marksman.

Perhaps the main thing causing Curry to consider his future is the fact that the Warriors are no longer the dominant force they were for much of his career.

Since last winning a championship in 2022, the Dubs lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and missed the playoffs last season.

They are currently just 28-27 this season, putting them in 10th place in the Western Conference, which is the final postseason play-in spot.

The Warriors are clearly trying to remain contenders as evidenced by the decision to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, but it is possible their window has already closed and that Curry has already played the last truly meaningful games of his legendary career.

The early returns for the Golden State Warriors with Jimmy Butler are very positive after Thursday's 105-98 victory over the Houston Rockets improved their record to 3-1 when the six-time All-Star has been in the lineup.

Speaking to reporters after the win, Draymond Green described Butler as a "franchise changer" for the Warriors.

"He's done that everywhere he's gone and he is helping revitalize what we got here," Green said. "The belief amongst this team, now that he's arrived, as opposed to what it was before he got here, it's night and day."

The Warriors looked like they were going to cruise to victory when they took an 81-57 lead midway through the third quarter. The Rockets got the deficit down to two with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Butler, Green and Stephen Curry helped Golden State fight off the charge, though. They combined for 17 of the Warriors' 23 points in the final period, including 12 straight points to close the frame.

Curry has been on a heater lately with 31.0 points, 5.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds in the four games he's played with Butler.

The impact Butler has had on the Warriors has been easy to measure. He's averaging 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game in four starts.

Even though it's still a small sample size, the six-time All-Star has a history of elevating his game when he's properly motivated. Based on how his tenure with the Miami Heat ended, it's safe to assume he wants to send a message to the rest of the NBA.

The Warriors (28-27) still have work to do if they want to get out of the play-in tournament mix. They are currently the No. 10 seed and are 3.5 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers (31-23) for the sixth spot in the Western Conference heading into the All-Star break.

The Golden State Warriors continue to see forward Jonathan Kuminga as a big part of their long-term future following the acquisition of Jimmy Butler.

Team governor Joe Lacob told The Athletic’s Anthony Slater the Warriors are “absolutely”  and “100 percent” committed to re-signing Kuminga, who’s eligible to become a restricted free agent in the summer.

“I love that guy. We love him,” Lacob said.

Kendra Andrews of ESPN reported in August that Golden State was hesitant to trade either Kuminga or guard Brandin Podziemski as it weighed a major trade.

“Golden State intends to hold onto those players ‘very tightly,’ and anything to loosen the grip on them would have to be an ‘overwhelming offer,’” Andrews wrote.

The organization's stance on Kuminga hadn't changed much this winter. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported on Jan. 16 the 6’8” forward “remains a player Golden State is reluctant to part with.”

The Warriors are clearly fixated on winning another championship with Stephen Curry; they wouldn’t have acquired Butler and signed him to a $111 million extension otherwise. They nonetheless continue to keep an eye toward the bigger picture.

Rather than lessening Kuminga’s role, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. might see Butler’s presence as a boon to the 22-year-old’s development. The six-time All-Star sounded eager about taking on a mentor role of sorts.

"I went into the locker room and (Jonathan Kuminga) immediately called me over like, 'I love (Jimmy Butler)! I love to watch how he plays!'" - @anthonyVslater

Butler mentoring Kuminga could benefit the Warriors in a big way...👀@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/Ms6ZaoZIg2

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 12, 2025

“I figure we’ll spend a lot of time together,” Butler said to Slater about Kuminga. “I would like to think I’ll make his job a lot easier and he’ll also make my job easier. He’s another individual they’re going to have to guard, they’re going to have to pay attention to. Then on defense, you got another quote, unquote ‘MFer’ that can switch, that can challenge shots, that can get out into the open floor.”

For now, the Warriors are saying all the right things with Kuminga. Come July, Lacob will have to put his money where his mouth is.

Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard might be getting closer and closer to the end of their careers, but the two legendary point guards continue giving fans battles for the ages.

On Monday, they added another fun matchup to their list of exciting duels.

As the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Golden State Warriors without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Curry went shot for shot all night. Lillard had 18 first-half points while Curry put up 15 of his own.

The matchup was reminiscent of some of the exciting playoff meetings between Lillard's Trail Blazers and Curry's Warriors years ago and had fans hyped on social media.

Dame v Steph will never get old. Gotta cherish these matchups.

— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) February 11, 2025

Dame vs Steph tonight pic.twitter.com/YrKHzWkBWg

— Dan Buhler (@FBuhlersDayOff) February 11, 2025

dame and steph putting up a duel rn fr

— steezynyc (@bkmadesteezy) February 11, 2025

Steph and Dame always wanna put on a show when they see each other

— Paritosh Bhide (@paritosh_bhide) February 11, 2025

Dame and steph are cooking

— Matteo (@Matteoo_afc) February 11, 2025

Dame vs steph is awesome #buxball

— JeremyWahl (@Jeremy_C_Wahl) February 11, 2025

Man I miss the Steph vs Dame Twitter rivalry cause this game would be all over the tl back then pic.twitter.com/oigXdx33Gc

— Warriors Comeback Season (@BiasedSC30fan) February 11, 2025

Steph and Dame are dueling.

— Honest Brotha (@TheImperfectLeo) February 11, 2025

https://twitter.com/Himothy7777/status/1889124806282334246

Dame & Steph so far…🍿🍿🍿

— Jeff Workman (@jwks) February 11, 2025

Steph vs. Dame never get old 🥹

— That’s Crazy (@ItDntStop) February 11, 2025

While Curry and Lillard aren't the same players they once were, the two are still playing at a high level. Curry is putting up 23 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this year while Lillard is averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game.

While Golden State's season hasn't gone the way it hoped, the Warriors are looking to turn things around with the addition of Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile, Lillard's Bucks will look to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference without Antetokounmpo, who will be sidelined until after the All-Star break with a calf injury.

Golden State Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr were all enthusiastic about Jimmy Butler after he made his debut for the team.

Butler had 25 points, two rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes on the floor in Saturday's 132-111 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Curry pointed out how much he and Butler differ with their offensive approaches, which could make Golden State even tougher to stop.

"He's like the exact opposite player of me, which is kind of funny," he said, per The Athletic's Anthony Slater. "I shot 16 threes. He shot one. He got to the free-throw line a lot, dominated the paint. I'm dominating the outside, the perimeter. Guys working around us. It has the potential to be really fun."

Green also called the six-time All-Star a "great target" for passes, with the prime example being this acrobatic layup in the fourth quarter.

The pass, the FINISH ⚡️

📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/Q5nUlCm8sP

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 9, 2025

"Put the ball in his area, he's gonna get it," Green said.

Curry said Butler was "like a receiver" on the lob from Green.

"That was ridiculous," he said.

Kerr, meanwhile, told reporters it's "pretty fun having Jimmy on our team." Beyond what's visible on the court, he emphasized the "confidence and presence" Butler brings to a roster that wasn't lacking in either already.

Butler's debut couldn't have gone much better. He filled out the stat sheet and helped the Warriors turn a 24-point deficit midway through the first half into a blowout victory.

As Kerr laid out, Saturday night exemplified why Golden State acquired the 35-year-old. Even against a rebuilding Bulls squad, it was impressive to see him hardly miss a beat after returning from what proved to be a seven-game suspension from the Miami Heat.

The Warriors play the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets before they head into the All-Star break. Going up against three straight playoff contenders will provide a better indication of whether their blockbuster addition has made them meaningfully better.

Jimmy Butler says Stephen Curry's ability to draw defenders to him is making his job easier.

Butler put up 25 points in his team debut, while Curry scored 34, to lead the Golden State Warriors to a Saturday night victory over the Chicago Bulls.

"They say opposites attract in a lot of ways in life. I don't think I could be a better complement to him, and vice versa," Butler said after Saturday's win. "In the sense that, they're not leaving him, ever. Probably two people will never leave him, so there's so much space for everybody else.

"I get the easy job. I'm playing one-on-one, I'm playing in so much space. And then everybody's looking for him, everybody's looking to get him open. And at the same time, he's looking for everybody else. It's so great to play with somebody like that."

Jimmy Butler on this Steph Curry comment: “Opposites attract in life. I don’t think I could be a better complement to him and vice versa. They’re not leaving him ever. Maybe two people…I get the easy job. I’m playing 1-on-1 or in space.” https://t.co/KyXgUAVELc pic.twitter.com/3jt7TBOmAT

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 9, 2025

The Warriors trailed early Saturday before Curry's 24-point third quarter helped turn the deficit into a 132-111 blowout win.

It was Curry who first described Butler as the "exact opposite" to him in his own interview following the win.

"He's like the exact opposite player of me, which is kind of funny," Curry said. "I'm shooting 16 threes, he shot one. He's getting to the free-throw line a lot, he's dominating the paint. I'm dominating the outside, the perimeter. The guys working around us, it has the potential to be really fun."

Steph Curry on Jimmy Butler: “He’s like the exact opposite player of me. I took 16 3s and he shot one. He got to the free throw line a lot, dominated the paint. I dominate the perimeter. It has the potential to be really fun.” pic.twitter.com/cUzXtNfLzW

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 9, 2025

The Warriors entered the weekend as one of the five NBA teams taking the fewest free throws per game.

That could be set to change going forward, if Butler's debut is any indication. The former Miami Heat star got to the foul line 13 times and made 11 of his throws, setting a franchise record for free throws made in a debut game, according to the team.

Curry meanwhile had one of his highest-volume shooting nights of the season as he attempted at least 16 shots from behind the arc for the sixth time in 43 games.

The Warriors star made half of those shots from deep to help his team complete their second-half comeback.

Curry said after the Warriors traded for Butler he hoped the drama in Miami, which led to the Heat issuing three separate suspensions for Butler, would end now that the forward had agreed to an extension with the Warriors.

Butler's apparent happiness to be playing with Curry is an early sign that the change of scenery could ultimately be positive for both player and team.

Jimmy Butler is undefeated as a Golden State Warrior.

Butler and Stephen Curry combined for 59 points in their first game together to lead the Warriors to a 132-111 Saturday night comeback win over the Chicago Bulls.

The Warriors trailed by as many as 24 points before the team's new star duo stepped up and turned the night into a blowout win.

Unbelievable debut of the new-look Warriors 😤

🔵Jimmy Butler: 25 PTS | 4 AST | 58% FG
🟡Steph Curry: 34 PTS (24 in just Q3) | 6 AST

No. 30 🤝 No. 10 pic.twitter.com/I5fKKSquWK

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 9, 2025

Steph Curry has not smiled like this since the beginning of the season. Thank you, Jimmy Butler 🙌🏾#Dubnation    #Warriors pic.twitter.com/jD1QF3KCo7

— 14-3/48-34 (@TheSkolWarrior) February 9, 2025

Jimmy Butler just scored the most points in a Warriors debut since … Kevin Durant

— dre (@OnBallSteph) February 9, 2025

Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler tonight pic.twitter.com/DarRroKPas

— E ☀️ (@DubMnE) February 9, 2025

Jimmy butler comes and all of sudden curry looks like curry again lol Yall said he was washed tho

— Pooh 👹 (@Bounc5ack9800) February 9, 2025

Steph back

Jimmy back

Warriors up

— Jae🏀 (@Havoc1893019) February 9, 2025

First game Jimmy drops 25 and Steph drops 34. They win by 20+. lol

It’s over. 🤣🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

— Lady Friends is out now! ☎️😻 (@Noah_Nova) February 9, 2025

Butler's opening basket as a Warrior came on a first-quarter alley-oop.

Jimmy Butler's FIRST bucket with the Dubs makes is a SLAM 💥

📺 @NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/YQnm7osSbg

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) February 9, 2025

A slow second quarter, which included the Warriors allowing 18 unanswered points by the Bulls, left the visitors staring down a 14-point deficit at the half.

That was when Curry stepped up with a 24-point third quarter to pull Golden State back in front.

MY GOODNESS STEPH CURRY IS COOKING 🍳🍳

TURNS AROUND BEFORE THE SHOT FALLS AND HE HAS 19 PTS IN THE THIRD 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/yUntd9py95

— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025

Butler then helped the Warriors wrap up the win by making four of his 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.

JIMMY BUTLER TOUGH REVERSE LAY 😤

IMMEDIATELY FINDS STEPH CELEBRATING ON THE SIDELINE. pic.twitter.com/xselBgHZbs

— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025

Butler closed out the victory with 25 points after going 11-for-13 from the foul line. The Warriors have struggled to get to the free-throw line this season, an issue fans hope is being solved after Butler set a new record for free throws made in a debut game with the franchise.

Curry led the Warriors with 34 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field, making eight of his 16 attempts from behind the arc and marking a third straight outing with at least 30 points.

Quinten Post contributed 18 points in his sixth NBA start, while Buddy Hield added 14 points and Draymond Green made three steals in the win. The Bulls were led by Coby White's 27 points.

The Warriors improved to 26-26 with the win, leapfrogging the Sacramento Kings— at least for now— for the final play-in spot in the West.

Given that adding Butler at the trade deadline was followed by one of Curry's best quarters of the season, Warriors fans may now have more reason to hope their team can hold on to a top-10 spot down the stretch.