The Golden State Warriors enjoyed a memorable season filled with triumphant highs and personal lows. This emotional rollercoaster ride only escalated after Jimmy Butler took the floor for the first time on February 8 against the Chicago Bulls. Prior to Butler’s arrival, the team was underachieving, with a record of 25-26. Shortly after his debut, the Warriors turned their season around and went 30-10 the rest of the way. They finished the season with a terrific 23-8 record, good enough for the third-best record in their league.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was quick to give Butler credit for turning around the Warriors’ season. His presence and influence breathed new life into the room’s chemistry. It ignited a rage-fueled 34-7 spurt that carried them all the way back to relevancy. You can tell that Kerr wanted to make clear just how much he was impressed by Butler’s impact. He continued, “This was an amazing run for us given the landscape at the trade deadline. Jimmy turned our season around, turned everything upside down for us, got us a chance. It made us one of the strongest teams in the league.”
While the increase in performance was indeed a surge, their season was marred by some brutal injury woes— most notably to superstar Stephen Curry. Curry, 37, has been dealing with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain that he sustained in Game 1. Kerr described the injury as a “gut punch.” Their leader’s absence not only had an effect on Butler’s individual performance but the team’s success down the stretch and in the playoffs.
With the league’s MVP out, the Warriors certainly did not have it easy. Right after Curry’s injury, Golden State lost four straight games. Kerr noted that the unpredictability of injuries often determines playoff success: “Maybe we wouldn’t have, but it doesn’t matter. Again, everything in the playoffs is about who remains healthy and who catches fire. In short, are you peaking when it counts the most?
As the season concluded, Kerr made the decision to take Butler and Draymond Green out for the final time this season. Green expressed confidence in general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., believing he would make the right moves to enhance the roster. That hasn’t changed one bit,” Green said, “and I think I still have that faith very much intact. You learn, you iterate, you pivot, you make do and you make it better. Go beyond the basics to gain a competitive edge.
Looking forward, Butler sounded upbeat about the future — for himself and the Warriors. He indicated excitement for a full season and training camp with the team, stating his eagerness to explore their potential as contenders when healthy.
“I know we had a shot. I know we could have gone the distance.” – Steve Kerr
The Warriors 2-0 record against that stretch post-Butler’s debut served as a reminder of the Warriors shock and awe potential and resilience. Despite facing adversity, they managed to rally together and showcase their capabilities on the court. Photo credit: Xinhua/Jiang Han Kerr’s leadership and Butler’s contributions were crucial to this resurgence, leaving fans optimistic about what future seasons may hold.
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