Warriors star Jimmy Butler jokes about Stephen Curry’s role in defense alongside Draymond Green

It looks like the Golden State Warriors‘ locker room is filled with joy after their victory over the Phoenix Suns. The reason is clear: they are one step closer to securing a playoff spot. Even Jimmy Butler had time to joke about Stephen Curry‘s defensive role, considering Draymond Green typically handles the defensive duties.

With this win over the Suns, the Warriors are now in an excellent position to reach the playoffs. The Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder gave Golden State fans a renewed sense of optimism. Curry’s performance was pivotal in achieving this victory.

Despite their struggles against the Rockets, the Warriors stayed confident and secured a hard-fought win over the Suns. While they are currently tied for playoff spots in the Western Conference, they’ve gained a slight edge over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sit in the seventh position.

Now, with their focus on the upcoming game on Wednesday night, Butler had a chance to poke fun at Curry’s role on the team, joking that Curry should be a candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Jimmy Butler III #10, Draymond Green #23 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors react in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on February 27, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

“I think DPOY… Stephen Curry!” Butler joked with the media. “Nah, I think Dray is the anchor behind that. Then, it’s a lot easier to play defense when you’ve got someone like Steph who’s constantly making shots. You can get your defense set.”

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Warriors star Draymond Green explains Jimmy Butler’s surprising impact on his 2025 DPOY run

Curry’s thoughts on Butler’s impact

As both Curry and Butler have frequently praised each other in their past matchups, Curry didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts on Butler’s impact, especially in a critical moment where every win counts. With a standout performance, Butler’s ability to distribute the ball to his teammates has been a key factor in his team’s success, and Curry made it clear that Butler is bringing something special to the roster.

“He’s another guy who brings a lot with his presence. You have to watch the game to truly understand what he does. He’s made everyone else’s job easier,“ Curry said during his interview with NBA on TNT.

Curry on Green’s defensive impact

As the defensive standout in Tuesday’s game, Draymond Green also earned praise from Curry. A frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Green delivered an exceptional performance, one that Curry was eager to comment on post-game.

“At this point, he’s basically the quarterback of our defense. He’s always one step ahead, communicates so well, and no matter the size of the player or the situation, he finds a way to shut them down,” Curry said, reflecting on Green’s dominant play.