Warriors stars have intriguing bet going

The morale seems high in Dub Nation, and it has felt that way since Jimmy Butler III's arrival during last season's trade deadline. 

The Golden State Warriors — who are 28-8 with Butler, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the lineup — continued their winning ways Tuesday with a 119-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Steve Kerr's team has also become closer off the court. Butler organized a minicamp for the roster during the offseason, spending a lot of time with his new teammates, even inviting them to his home. 

Jimmy Butler III vs. Stephen Curry 

The friendship between Butler and Green has manifested in a friendly bet. After Tuesday's win, Butler revealed that Green had dared him to maintain a higher free-throw percentage than Curry, a career 91% shooter from the charity stripe, in the 2025-26 season.   

"I have a bet going with Dray that I gotta shoot a better [FT] percentage than No. 30 on our team," Butler said, while terming it "a kinda bad bet." 

Butler, a career 84% shooter from the free-throw line, is elite in his own right, but gets to the line a lot more than Curry. The 36-year-old has attempted 6.7 free throws a game, while Curry has attempted 4.3.

Warriors are the sleeper title favorites

That trend continued in Tuesday's contest, as both Butler (16-of-16) and Curry (8-of-8) were perfect from the line. 

"It's a great start," Butler said of the bet, while vowing to "always go 16-for-16" when Curry shoots a perfect clip.

The off-court camaraderie is a sign of a spirited bunch, which is why the Warriors shouldn't be dismissed as legitimate title contenders. 

Although the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets have shorter title odds, the Warriors have been widely projected to shock the world, possibly making a title run. ESPN's Kevin Pelton, using a stats-based simulation model, has predicted the Warriors will win 63 games and top the conference standings.   

The Warriors (1-0) will next host the Nuggets on Thursday night.