Although the Golden State Warriors haven’t captured an NBA title since 2022 and are no longer the dominant dynasty they were during their four championships in eight years, they still face the pressure to make the most of Stephen Curry’s remaining prime and secure another banner for Chase Center.
The addition of Jimmy Butler — along with his two-year, $111 million contract extension that coincides with the agreements of Curry and Draymond Green — indicated that Warriors management is committing to another championship pursuit.
With Butler, Golden State has a record of 3-1, securing away wins over the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks (absent Giannis Antetokounmpo), and Houston Rockets (lacking Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason). The four-game sample provided sufficient evidence for Green to make an unexpected statement Sunday during TNT’s NBA All-Star pregame show.
Ever since he’s arrived, we’ve entered each game with the mindset or conviction that we are going to win. “And that matters significantly in this league,” Green remarked about Butler. “When you enter the game thinking, ‘Ah, we’re likely going to lose this,’ it’s not a positive mindset.” Thus, he has reinstated that conviction. “I believe we will win the championship.”
Adam Lefkoe subsequently requested Green to reiterate his statement to ensure that he, Jalen Rose, and Vince Carter understood him accurately.
“I’m regretful.” “I mentioned that I believe we will win a championship, but I wasn’t truthful,” Green responded. “We will secure the championship title.”
Betting agencies are not as hopeful as Green. The Warriors have the ninth-best odds (+3000 at DraftKings) and the tenth-best odds (+4000 at BetMGM, +4800 at FanDuel) to claim the NBA championship for the 2024-25 season.
Although the 35-year-old Butler is posting averages of 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, proving to be a reliable star partner for Curry, Golden State’s performance will hinge on its ability to defend effectively in the absence of Andrew Wiggins, its leading perimeter defender who was traded to the Miami Heat as part of the Butler transaction.
The comeback of dynamic 22-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga from an ankle injury provides head coach Steve Kerr with an additional compelling choice. It seems like a significant leap of faith for a team starting the season’s second half in 10th place at 28-27 to believe that he and Butler could be the crucial elements for a deep postseason journey in a tough Western Conference.
Curry, the MVP of the All-Star Game, was unbothered by Green’s bold forecast.
“We thrive under pressure.” “We appreciate expectations,” Curry stated. “He’s intelligent.” “He understands what he is expressing.”
