Warriors fulfill Stephen Curry’s long-standing request

Golden State now boasts a dynamic offensive duo!

The Golden State Warriors bounced back from a tough loss to the Dallas Mavericks, entering the All-Star break with a 105-98 win over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Thursday.

Despite the setback in Dallas on Wednesday, the Jimmy Butler era is off to a promising start for the Warriors, who have won three of their first four games since the 6x All-Star joined the team last week.

The Warriors are now seeing the benefits of granting Stephen Curry’s wish

For a long time, Golden State struggled to find another star to ease the load on Stephen Curry, with the franchise finishing 10th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs last season.

Over the past year, the Warriors were frequently linked to several big-name players, such as LeBron James, Paul George, and Lauri Markkanen. However, the front office consistently resisted making moves to add another star player, causing frustration among fans as they held onto their young prospects and draft picks.

Though Curry rarely pressures the front office publicly, it’s clear he would have preferred more support and another star to help return the Warriors to playoff contention.

It seems the front office felt the pressure, ultimately deciding to make a major push for a star before the trade deadline. Despite initial rejections from Butler and 2x Finals MVP Kevin Durant, the Warriors were determined not to reach the deadline with the same roster.

They eventually landed Butler, though it meant parting ways with Andrew Wiggins—a difficult choice. Early results suggest it was the right call, as Butler provides the Warriors with another essential scorer and playmaker, a much-needed addition.

Although Butler, 35, hasn’t been highly efficient since joining, possibly due to limited playing time in his final weeks with the Miami Heat, his impact is undeniable. He gives Curry his most accomplished teammate since Durant left in 2019.

Butler is currently averaging 21.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in his first four games, and there’s plenty of room for improvement once he gets fully in shape and adjusts to Golden State’s system after the All-Star break.

Equally important, Butler’s arrival has reinvigorated Curry, who has been averaging 31 points and shooting 40% from three over the last four games. Whether the new star duo can push the Warriors into the playoffs remains uncertain, but there’s no doubt they make Golden State a more dangerous team with plenty of potential as the season progresses.