When the news dropped right before tipoff that Jimmy Butler was a late scratch for “personal reasons,” a collective groan probably echoed across the Bay Area.
De'Anthony Melton came off the bench to produce a season-high 24 points, Draymond Green added 20 and the Golden State Warriors relied on depth in the absence of Jimmy Butler III to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 136-116 in San Francisco on Saturday night.
The Golden State Warriors are becoming more consistent as the NBA season hits its halfway mark, having won seven of their last 10 games. They have beaten teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers during that span.
It's hard for everything to go right in the NBA, whether that's due to managerial decisions, bad luck with injuries, or other factors. In league history, there are some moments that stand out, moments that could have gone in a completely different direction and drastically changed the league.
For months, Jonathan Kuminga’s role with the Warriors didn’t just shrink—it vanished. No explanations. No public defense. Just silence. Around the league, that silence has fueled conspiracy theories: that Golden State’s veterans had quietly decided Kuminga was expendable long before he demanded out.
The point guard position is a notoriously difficult position to suit up for. Whether it is purely because the position sits at a crucial intersection between offense and defense or because all the stars it has given to the sport, remains subject to debate.
No one could have guessed that Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry would be the most discussed NBA player among sneakerheads this season. However, Curry's abrupt split with Under Armour in November changed everything.
Where mid-season slumps are setting in league-wide, the Golden State Warriors are on an improving trajectory. All while trade drama threatens team chemistry.
Jimmy Butler never wastes an opportunity to bust someone’s chops. His victims occasionally include members of the media. Butler was the star of the show for the Golden State Warriors on Thursday as they trounced the New York Knicks in a 126-113 contest at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif.
Jonathan Kuminga has demanded a trade from the Golden State Warriors, signaling the imminent end of his nearly five seasons with the team. Some of his bosses are trying to convey they were never fans of the Kuminga choice in the first place.
Kuminga has been in a difficult situation for his entire career after the Warriors selected him with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft, then made a surprising run to the 2022 title.