Golden State Warriors Bank on Jimmy Butler for a Final Championship Run

The hopes of the Golden State Warriors for a successful postseason hinge on the arrival of Jimmy Butler, as the team rallies for one last championship endeavor with their seasoned core. On February 5th, before Stephen Curry performed his customary pregame exercises in Utah, he stepped out of the visitors’ locker room at the Delta Center to embrace Andrew Wiggins, who was just leaving the court. Wiggins had recently been informed of his trade to the Miami Heat as part of a massive five-team deal, which would bring Jimmy Butler III to the Warriors. Shortly thereafter, a solemn Steve Kerr made the decision to close the locker room before the media could enter, enabling players and coaches to bid heartfelt goodbyes to Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson, and Lindy Waters III.

That evening, the Warriors, now lacking key players, suffered a narrow 131-128 defeat to the then 12-win Jazz, leaving them with a 25-25 record. After the game, Curry returned to a locker room that felt emptier than before, with four teammates now absent from the close-knit squad. However, the promise of a new powerhouse addition loomed on the horizon. As Curry, visibly emotional, turned to face his longest-standing teammate Draymond Green, tears marked his expression, conveying the weight of the moment’s significance. “This is it,” Curry confided in Green. “It’s our last ride.”

Throughout the season, Curry yearned to play in games that held meaning, his sights set firmly on acquiring a fifth championship ring. On Monday, Curry will take part in his 151st playoff game, facing the Houston Rockets in Game 4. This particular match could become monumental if Butler plays at Curry’s side, breathing new life into the Warriors’ aspirations for glory.