Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Steph Curry Makes Jimmy Butler Statement After Playing With NBA Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 4:56 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors are less than two months from opening the 2025–26 NBA season and Stephen Curry is already setting the tone.

Speaking on the "Dubs Talk" podcast on Wednesday, Curry praised teammate Jimmy Butler, calling him "a high-IQ, dominant player" and noting that Draymond Green "has a lot left in the tank. "

Curry added that the trio plans to "take advantage of it, get prepared, get on the same page and hit the ground running."

The comments come as the Warriors prepare for their first full season with Butler, who joined the team in February via a midseason trade from the Miami Heat.

"Jimmy is such a high-IQ, dominant player. Draymond knows he got a lot left in the tank... We're going to take advantage of it, get prepared, get on the same page, and hit the ground running."

— Stephen Curry on the 2025-26 season

(via Dubs Talk Podcast) pic.twitter.com/RNPMjY55Gh
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 20, 2025

A Tale of Two Halves: 2024–25 Season Recap

After Klay Thompson departed in the offseason, Golden State opened strong at 12–3 before sliding to a 25–26 record by early February.

On February 5, the front office executed a five-team trade to acquire Butler, sending out Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and draft capital. Butler signed a two-year, $1 11 million extension through 2026–27 shortly after arriving.

The impact was immediate. Golden State went 23–7 after Butler’s debut, finishing 48–34, a two-win improvement over the previous season and securing the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

In 30 regular-season games with the Warriors, Butler averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals, shooting 87% from the free-throw line (tied career-high) and 47.6% from the field on 10.9 attempts a night.

The trio’s chemistry was evident in the postseason as Golden State defeated the second-seeded Houston Rockets in seven games in the first round.

However, Curry strained his hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Warriors fell in five games.

Nevertheless, the move to acquire Butler quickly reshaped Golden State’s trajectory last year and remains central to their hopes in the upcoming season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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