Steve Kerr spent most of the season juggling lineups, trying to find a combination that actually worked. The Warriors cycled through 33 different starting units, searching for stability. But once Jimmy Butler arrived, that search finally came to an end. Golden State desperately needed a shake-up before the trade deadline, and trading for Butler turned out to be the answer.
His presence immediately changed everything. The Warriors went on a tear, winning five of their first six games with him in the mix. Sunday’s matchup against Dallas was personal. The Warriors weren’t just looking for a win—they wanted payback for their only loss with Butler in the lineup. And they got it dominantly. After the game, Kerr made it clear just how much Butler has reshaped the team—and the energy surrounding it.
Before the trade, the Warriors were struggling to find consistency, something Kerr openly acknowledged. “You can tell our fans see the difference,” Kerr said. “They feel the momentum just like we do. It was an important shift. The trade itself, I think I mentioned this after the Sacramento game, we needed it. We felt it,” he explained. “We were kind of treading water. We couldn’t get any traction in the season and Mike (Dunleavy) sensed it and made the move.”
Golden State didn’t just make a change—they landed one of the league’s elite players.
“Sometimes you’ve got to shake things up and we shook things up,” Kerr said. “It just so happened that one of the best players in the league was available.”. Well not only the Warriors’ Head Coach, who by default is supposed to believe in them, the king of hot takes has also had some time to retrospect.
Steve Kerr on the charged up arena environment today in the first home game since Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler: “You can tell our fans see the difference. They feel the momentum just like we do.” pic.twitter.com/RCgCEPrqnB
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 23, 2025
Stephen A. Smith has taken a page out of Shaquille O’ Neal’s playbook. When the Warriors pulled the trigger on a trade for Butler, not everyone was sold. At 35, with signs of decline, some questioned if he was really the answer. One of the biggest doubters? ESPN’s SAS.
But even before the Warriors dominated the Mavs, SAS admitted he might have misjudged the move, giving Shaq’s “I owe you an apology, I wasn’t really familiar with your game” vibes.
“I think I was wrong… I think I was wrong when I first talked about this,” Smith confessed on NBA Countdown on ESPN. “Because I looked at Jimmy Butler, and I said, we know what a big-time player he is, particularly in the postseason, but does him and Steph mesh?”
Numbers don’t lie, and Butler’s stats since joining the Warriors forced Smith to rethink his stance.
“Jimmy Butler’s averaging 20 and 6. He is averaging over nine free throws per game, which is sixth in the league since he arrived in Golden State,” he pointed out.
Smith still isn’t ready to crown the Warriors as champions, but he’s definitely paying attention.
“I don’t have them winning it, but I can’t summarily dismiss what I’m seeing and how impressive it’s been,” he added. Impressive for sure as the Warriors win with the 6x All-Star at home for the first time.
Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry combine for 48 points
After a long seven-game road trip—and snagging Jimmy Butler in the process—the Warriors finally played at Chase Center on Sunday night. They made it count, crushing the Mavericks 126-102.
Golden State was already rolling, winning four of Butler’s first five games. Sunday’s win made it three straight, with Butler and Steph Curry combining for 48 points. Afterward, Butler had everyone cracking up.
“First game is a dub, that’s always good. Now I’ve got to find somewhere to live. I ain’t got anywhere to live out here,” he joked.
Feb 23, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) drives past Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
With Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively II out, Kerr leaned into his signature small-ball strategy, and it worked. Curry torched Dallas with 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting while adding seven assists and four rebounds. Butler wasn’t far behind, finishing with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also tallied five assists, three rebounds, and a steal.
Butler’s transition to Golden State has been seamless, averaging 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in six games. Doubts about his fit? Gone. Kerr has made it work, and the Warriors are now 30-27, climbing to ninth in the West. A few weeks ago, they were treading water. Now? They’re looking like a real threat.
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