The Golden State Warriors may have come up short against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, but it’s clear they’ve become a different squad since adding Jimmy Butler—an acquisition that has reignited their championship hopes. Since Butler joined the team, the Warriors have suffered only three losses when both he and Steph Curry are in the lineup.
Golden State’s core trio—head coach Steve Kerr, Curry, and Draymond Green—has already secured four titles, but Butler’s presence could be the key to hanging another banner. Despite a decorated 14-year NBA career, Butler’s legacy still faces scrutiny, particularly from Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball.
“The only thing I’ll say is, Philly had a stacked roster and still lost to Kawhi,” Ball said on The WAE Show, referring to the 2018-19 76ers team. “Nobody expected Toronto to win the Finals that year. I’m not trying to hear excuses… Minnesota had talent too, it just didn’t click. He’s got a real shot this year with Steph and Draymond.”
Many argue the 2018-19 Philadelphia squad—featuring Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and JJ Redick—was Butler’s most talented team. However, his deepest postseason runs came with the Miami Heat, leading them to the Finals in both 2020 and 2023.
As the regular season winds down and Western Conference playoff positioning tightens, the Warriors are pushing to stay out of the play-in tournament. If Butler, Green, and Curry can remain healthy, Golden State should be a serious threat this postseason.