If Stephen Curry were to go down with an injury before the trade deadline, there would be panic in the Golden State Warriors locker room. There is still a state of concern for their compatriot. Curry suffered a gruesome fall landing on his already injured back. Still, even without him, the Warriors found their toughness and courageously fended off the Raptors. But this was a partial bout. How will they look when they have to start without Stephen Curry?
Many of the Warriors had different answers. It’s only right to start with the coach. After winning against the Bucks without the Chef, Kerr admits his team is confident without their ‘leader’. The win signaled the Warriors’ partial readiness to usher into a new era post-Curry. But most importantly, Kerr believes it’s one guy who has changed the dynamic.
“I just feel like we are very confident now and Jimmy has a whole lot to do with that. This guy just takes over games and you saw it we basically ran everything through him after Steph went out and he just kept attacking and creating,” Kerr said. To him, Butler is the embodiment of a true competitor.
But as confident as the team is, they are well aware of the pressure. Playing without Stephen Curry takes away many advantages. There is a drastic loss in creativity, and the margin to mess up is thin. Likewise, to Jimmy Butler, as much as winnings possible, it’s going to take a lot.
Jimmy Butler on the Warriors need to play “perfect” basketball if Steph Curry misses time
“We can’t afford to turn the ball over. We can’t afford to foul. Because we don’t have the one individual who can automatically get us back into the game.” pic.twitter.com/lbkGic7gd4
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 21, 2025
“That’s just more perfect basketball that we’re going to have to play. We can’t afford to turn the ball over. We can’t afford to foul. Because we don’t have the one individual who can automatically get us back into the game,” Butler said about playing without Stephen Curry in the squad.
The Warriors do appear confident. And they should be. Since the All-Star break, the Warriors are 6-1 in clutch games. That’s the best mark in the NBA and a lone Stephen Curry isn’t entirely responsible for it. The Warriors aside from the two-time MVP have accepted their roles and are streamlining their contributions to augment its effect.
But in doing so, there is just one line they don’t have to cross.
The Warriors can’t do this one thing
The Golden State Warriors will have a number of contributors with Curry absent. Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Kuminga all can take the helm and lead the team to victory. But there is still something the locker room leaders want them to know, particularly the young players.
In games without Curry, the importance of their output elevates. However, just because their responsibilities are increasing doesn’t mean they need to try and replicate what Curry does. As Draymond Green said after the win against the Raptors, “Just expect them to play their game. None of those guys are going to be Steph Curry. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it goes,”.
In that vein, watch for Jonathan Kuminga to become a dazzling performer for the Warriors once again. Before Butler, the 22-year-old forward proved his ability to be the frontal offensive power. Moreover, with him returning from injury only recently, these games could be a great way to increase his intensity.
And so the Golden State Warriors essentially know what to do. Nobody wants to try and replace Curry. They know it isn’t possible. But without his presence on the floor, they will have to be sharp. So far, the Warriors have only played once without Curry. Jimmy Butler guided the Warriors to a resilient win back then.
But the learning is still not over. They are still learning the ways without Curry on the floor. The fans will also play a pivotal role during this stretch as they did tonight. How do you think the Warriors will handle it? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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