The Golden State Warriors had been doing nothing greater than barely treading water over the primary half of this season, and it seemed like there was an actual probability they might miss the playoffs for the second 12 months in a row.
However almost a month in the past, they swung a giant commerce for veteran star ahead Jimmy Butler, and he appears to have revitalized a franchise that has been in regular decline since profitable its most up-to-date NBA championship in 2022.
Golden State has received eight of their final 10 video games, and so they have risen to sixth place within the Western Convention, despite the fact that Butler hasn’t been placing up large numbers.
It led Chris Broussard to boldly proclaim on Fox Sports activities 1’s “First Issues First” that they’ve grow to be legit contenders as a result of he feels Butler is a perfect match because of his mid-range sport.
“Jimmy Butler is ideal for them,” Broussard stated.
.@Chris_Broussard is shopping for the Warriors as legit contenders within the West 👀
“Jimmy Butler is ideal for them.” pic.twitter.com/g4bJknDu1T
— First Issues First (@FTFonFS1) March 4, 2025
Butler has given the Warriors that legit second star they haven’t had ever since Klay Thompson, who left to hitch the Dallas Mavericks final summer time, suffered a torn ACL and torn Achilles a couple of years in the past.
The six-time All-Star is averaging a modest 16.0 factors a sport and taking pictures simply 43.3 % from the sphere together with his new staff, however he has seemingly energized Stephen Curry, whose numbers had been under par on the time of the commerce.
Curry has put up 29.5 factors a sport and is taking pictures 50.8 % total and 41.9 % from 3-point land in his final 10 video games, and he’s beginning to seem like his outdated self once more.
Playoff positioning, nonetheless, goes to harm Golden State — they sit in sixth place within the Western Convention and are 4 video games behind the fifth-place Houston Rockets — which implies they’ll have a steep uphill climb within the playoffs.
Maybe their actual potential with Butler received’t be seen till subsequent season after they have a full coaching camp with him, to not point out a full offseason so as to add some reinforcements.
NEXT: Warriors Have Been Dominating Since Buying and selling For Jimmy Butler