Stephen Curry under the spotlight following major remarks from Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler

The addition of Jimmy Butler gave the Golden State Warriors an extra dose of vitality and talent as they head into the decisive stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season. The small forward has meshed seamlessly with the team’s collective functioning, and it appears that his chemistry with teammates, especially Stephen Curry, extends off the court as well.

“He real real. Good dude,” Butler said of Curry during a recent interview with The Athletic. “More than anything, he’s just nice. I’m not talking about on the court. He’s just genuinely just a good human being. To everybody. It’s very, very, very, very refreshing. Because he doesn’t have to be that way.”

As the undisputed leader of the Golden State Warriors on the court for more than a decade, and arguably the most important player in franchise history, Steph could easily adopt a different demeanor. However, Butler explains that Curry’s approach is the complete opposite.

“He’s always trying to help everybody be great. Laughs. Wants to have a good time,” the former Miami Heat star explained. And about Curry’s approach to basketball, he added: “He loves the game. Loves to compete. Loves to win. But he is the guy. He is the man. He is everything everybody says of him.”

Jimmy Butler III #10 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 23, 2025.

Butler’s decision to join the Warriors

In the weeks leading up to the trade that brought Butler to the Golden State Warriors, there was much speculation about the small forward’s possible destinations. In fact, numerous reports claimed that he had no intention of playing for the Warriors, preferring other destinations such as the Houston Rockets or Phoenix Suns.

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“I wasn’t skeptical about coming here,” Jimmy clarified. “I just didn’t talk to anybody… People keep talking about it being about the money. How can it be about the money if any team that trades for me, what are they going to do? I just want to win – where can I go to win?”

Butler’s adjustment to Golden State

Also speaking to The Athletic, Curry candidly admitted that Jimmy Butler’s arrival to the Warriors brought some uncertainty about how the team dynamic would work on and off the court. “With any deal, you question it,” Stephen Curry assured. “Even when KD (Kevin Durant) came in, you don’t know how it’s going to be. We came in positive, but you still had to see it. That discomfort is good because it challenges everyone to talk about it, to come in with the right preparation.”