The Golden State Warriors made a blockbuster addition last season and doubled down on that commitment heading into the upcoming NBA campaign. By acquiring veteran star Jimmy Butler, the Warriors added another All-Star to their roster—and Butler wasted no time stirring the pot by weighing in on who would win in a one-on-one matchup against a Phoenix Suns standout.
Ahead of his first training camp with Stephen Curry and the Warriors, Butler was asked by a YouTuber who would win a game to 11 between him and Suns guard Devin Booker. Butler didn’t hesitate, delivering a surprisingly one-sided prediction during a Twitch stream with Brandon Awadis.
“Devin Booker. 11-0,” Butler said, giving full credit to Booker’s offensive arsenal. His answer underscored the high regard he has for Booker’s scoring ability, agility, and shot-creating potential—qualities that have made the Suns guard one of the NBA’s most potent weapons.
Booker averaged 25.6 points on 46.1% shooting last season, along with a career-high 7.1 assists and 0.9 steals per game. Even so, Butler’s blowout prediction raised eyebrows. While Butler may no longer be selected to All-Defensive Teams—having earned the honor five times between 2014 and 2021—the 35-year-old forward still carries a strong defensive reputation and remains a threat on both ends of the floor.
Butler contributed solid numbers in his first season with Golden State, averaging 17.9 points on 47.6% shooting to go along with 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals across 30 games. Following the trade from the Miami Heat, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra assured Steve Kerr that Butler would thrive in Golden State’s system—and so far, he has.
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That context makes Butler’s prediction all the more surprising. Known for his defensive tenacity and ability to attack the paint, Butler has rarely conceded that anyone could dominate him so decisively in a head-to-head setting.
Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry, meanwhile, remains optimistic about what the trio of himself, Butler, and Draymond Green can accomplish this season. Their momentum was derailed last year after Curry suffered a left hamstring injury, but he believes the group can bounce back strong in 2025–26.
“I know I got hurt. But you just want to build off that for another year to build chemistry with Jimmy. You know Draymond will do his thing,” Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole. “Hopefully, some of our young guys are able to take another step. That’s an every-year process.”
