The Golden State Warriors have been labeled as too old, with fans and the media alike agreeing that the dynasty is already over. Stephen Curry and crew might have something to say about that, though, especially because they have Jimmy Butler.
Butler was added ahead of the trade deadline last year in a polarizing move. The six-time All-Star caused a lot of turmoil during the end of his Miami Heat stint after he requested a trade, but he proved to be a good fit once he joined the Warriors. Butler is still proving the skeptics wrong, and his skill set was on display in the Warriors' opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jimmy Butler keeps proving that he is a great fit for the Warriors
The Warriors went from being vulnerable to missing the playoffs last season to a team that won a playoff series once Butler joined the team. Butler isn't the typical superstar in the sense that he does all of the dirty work. He doesn't need to put up high scoring totals to impact the game. He is a great rebounder, he plays elite defense, and he is a solid playmaker. Butler always plays with intensity and effort, too.
Butler can certainly score in bunches when need be, though. That was evident in the first game of the season. Butler led all Golden State scorers with 31 points. He was 16-for-16 from the charity stripe, and his ability to draw contact and make free throws might be his biggest contribution to the team. After all, Curry has never shot as many free throws as many of the other superstars around the league, and Draymond Green is obviously limited when it comes to being a self-creator and overall scorer.
Butler helped lift the Warriors to a 119-109 victory in a game in which the Lakers' Luka Doncic went off, and his performance should give the Warriors more hope that their title window is still open. With Steve Kerr coaching the team, the Warriors have won four championships, and they shouldn't be written off yet. After all, their last championship came as a surprise to many. The Western Conference is stacked, but young teams like the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and San Antonio Spurs are still finding their way.
Butler seems like the piece that has been missing, and it makes sense because the Marquette product does a little bit of everything. Golden State's core is old and doesn't have a lot of time left in the league, but that should only motivate them to have one more great season.
