The Golden State Warriors' acquisition of Jimmy Butler on February 5 has transformed an aging and middling 25-25 team into a legitimate championship contender. The Warriors have gone 26-9 since Butler's debut and head into Monday with a 2-1 series lead against the Houston Rockets.
In an emotional moment following the trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to Miami, Stephen Curry told Draymond Green through tears that this could be "our last ride," signaling both the end of an era and the potential for one final championship push with Butler's arrival.
"This is it," Curry told Green. "It's our last ride."
The 34-year-old Butler has seamlessly integrated into the Warriors' system despite his contrasting playing style to Curry, with Steve Kerr successfully blending Curry's off-ball movement with Butler's methodical isolation approach that has been crucial in playoff moments.
"The exciting thing is Jimmy gives us the opportunity to extend this thing by a couple of years," Kerr told ESPN. "He's that good. He's also the kind of athlete who's going to age well because he's not relying on explosive leaping ability. It's more savvy and strength, and he's such a smart player."
Since joining the Warriors, Butler has formed strong relationships with his new teammates, spending late nights playing poker with Curry and Green and embracing his role alongside the two-time MVP, even wearing a custom No. 30 Warriors jersey with "Butler III" on the back during a recent workout.
Butler's playoff pedigree has been on full display, particularly in the play-in victory over Memphis where he posted 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. His arrival has also helped propel the Warriors to the top of the league in defensive efficiency.
The self-deprecating Butler has taken to calling himself "Robin" to Curry's "Batman," though his teammates and coaches recognize his ability to elevate his game in the postseason.
Butler has averaged 11.7 isolations per 100 possessions since joining Golden State, giving the Warriors a playoff-ready offensive weapon for physical matchups when teams focus on limiting Curry's perimeter movement.
With Curry at 37 years old and the core of the Warriors' dynasty aging, the partnership with Butler represents what could be the final championship opportunity for a team that has defined an era of NBA basketball. As Green told ESPN regarding their reaction to Butler's arrival: "We got an obligation to uphold... They [traded for Butler] for us because they still believe in us."
"Yeah, he's different," Green said of Butler after the play-in win over Memphis. "You can just see a whole intensity level and focus. I've watched it on TV for years. To see it up close and personal? Like it's a real thing. Sometimes, you get in the NBA, and these guys get these nicknames. And you're like, 'Man, stop it, they're not real.' That one is real. And I'm happy he's on our side."
"I think any team has a chance when I'm on the team," Butler said after securing the seventh seed. "But I know that every team has a chance if Steph is on the team. So, I get to play Robin. That's my Batman."
"The last 13 years, we had 'The Splash Brothers,'" Curry told ESPN. "We had me, Draymond and Klay, which we didn't really have a nickname per se, but we've been a part of lineup nicknames and all that type of stuff.
"Now, Jimmy taking the liberty to create a new nickname that he didn't run by me, which is beautiful because that means he's bought in, he's here."