Many believed Steph Curry’s Golden State were past it in 2022 before they won the championship. This time around, Jimmy Butler has given them new lifeIt felt like the end, again.The Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs in 2020 and 2021, but they stormed back from the abyss in 2022 to beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals. Steph Curry was 33 for most of that season. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson were 31. The Warriors’ return to the pinnacle of basketball had the whiff of a last hurrah, and indeed, their championship core faded for a second time after that: a second-round exit in 2023, a play-in tournament flatlining in 2024. Curry and his four-time championship-winning teammates continued to get older in the way athletes do. Continue reading...
The Golden State Warriors, written off after missing the playoffs in 2020 and 2021 and experiencing a decline after their 2022 championship win, are resurging as a title contender due to the arrival of Jimmy Butler. Butler's defensive impact has significantly improved the team, although he hasn't yet found his shooting form. Despite this, Stephen Curry's high usage rate remains crucial, and his health, along with the need for additional offensive support, will determine the Warriors' playoff success.
