Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Every week, Mark Medina shares his thoughts and insights on the latest NBA topics for RG. In this installment, he gives his take on Jimmy Butler’s arrival with the Golden State Warriors and if it’s enough to win an NBA title.
Without even brewing his famous coffee, Jimmy Butler has awakened the Golden State Warriors by giving them a figurative espresso shot.
The ingredients: instant offense, better floor spacing and improved defense. The flavors: competitiveness, joy and selflessness. By consuming this beverage, the Warriors have instantly transformed themselves.
No longer do the Warriors face uncertainty on whether they will make the NBA playoffs or even sneak into the Play-In tournament. The Warriors (37-28) enter Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings (33-3) with only a half-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves (37-29) both for the No. 6 seed and to avoid the Play-In tournament. Though the projected playoff seedings will stay fluid through the final month of the regular season, the Warriors have given strong indications that theirs won’t fluctuate.
They have gone 12-2 since the Butler trade. They have produced the NBA’s fifth-best offense (120.7 rating). They have overseen the league’s second-best defense (108.9). As the Warriors ride this adrenaline rush, however, can it last long enough to ensure another NBA championship?
Draymond Green thinks so. Shortly after the Warriors acquired Butler from the Miami Heat before the trade deadline, Green told me and others that the Warriors will win this year’s NBA championship. Green reiterated that stance as a TNT analyst during NBA All-Star weekend.
Green never shies away from sharing both his well-reasoned and outlandish opinions in interviews, on TNT and his podcast. Whether the Warriors rolled through the dynasty years or underachieving seasons, Green never doubted the team’s title fortunes publicly.
This time around, Green’s hype actually matches the substance. Does that mean the general public should buy Green’s stock, though? Tough call.
It looks likely that both the Eastern Conference Finals (Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers) and Western Conference Finals (Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets) will feature the conference’s top two seeds. But the Warriors have at least opened their once non-existent championship window.
Once an NBA team opens that window, any combination of strong health, star power, quality coaching, dependable secondary players and luck can help them climb through it. In the Warriors’ case, they have all of those necessary qualities to win their fifth NBA title in the past 10 years.
Steph Curry remains an elite shooter, regardless of the swarming defensive coverages he faces. Green remains an elite defender at all five positions, even amid through the team’s inconsistency. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has proven himself enough that he can manage star talent and empower role players enough to overcome any Xs and Os weaknesses. The Warriors still have some players present from their 2022 NBA championship run, including a dependable rebounder (Kevon Looney), a strong perimeter defender (Gary Payton II) and a rising young star (Jonathan Kuminga).
Add in Butler’s presence, and the Warriors surely could hoist another Larry O’Brien trophy. Consider that Butler led the Miami Heat to the 2023 NBA Finals as an eighth seed with diminished talent. Plenty of that has to do with Butler’s own greatness and how he elevates his performances in high-stakes playoff matchups. And since joining the Warriors, Butler has immediately shed any concerns that his dissatisfaction with Miami would linger following his departure.
The Warriors immediately signed Butler to a two-year, $121 million extension that keeps him under contract through the 2026-27 season. Despite showing vulnerability with injuries the past two seasons, the 35-year-old Butler has not shown any warning signs about his upcoming availability. Butler has become professional again with his team-oriented play, competitive spirt and genuine intentions.
Since joining the Warriors, Butler has averaged 17.6 points on efficient shooting from the field (45.6%) and from the free-throw line (88%) along with 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Butler produced his first career triple double. And Butler has made Curry’s life significantly easier.
Since the Butler trade, Curry has averaged 29.9 points while shooting 49.6% from the field and 42.4% from 3-point range along with 6.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. That marks a stark increase from increase from his season averages in points per game , (24.5), shooting percentage (44.8%) and 3-point shooting. (39.8%).
Curry has remained an elite shooter, but he finally has consistent scoring help that will alleviate the pressure and punish opponents that try to double team him. That’s because Butler fulfills every need that the Warriors lacked beforehand. He scores efficiently from midrange. He often draws fouls every time he drives to the basket. He willingly passes both to Curry and other teammates whenever defenses collapse on him.
Can Butler help Curry enough to collect his fifth ring? The Cavaliers, Celtics, Thunder, Nuggets and even the Los Angeles Lakers have strong rebuttals. Just like the way one cup of coffee can positively impact someone’s day, Butler has shown the same positive influence for the Warriors.
Mark Medina
