Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Warriors
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Jimmy Butler III #10 talks to Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of their game against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center on November 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California.
With Jimmy Butler III out of action for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, and likely most of next season, the Golden State Warriors face a tall task in helping Stephen Curry capture his fifth NBA championship.
After Thursday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, Curry was asked about the ramifications of the Butler injury and how it could impact Golden State’s immediate future. In a rather surprising response, the usually mild-mannered Curry took issue with the question, stating that he wasn’t willing to look too far ahead.
“I’m not talking about that right now,” Curry said, via The Athletic’s Nick Friedell.
“We’re just trying to win a game on the road. So there’s a lot of time before [the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline], there’s a lot of time before the playoffs. I don’t need any existential thoughts right now.”
Steph Curry on Jimmy Butler Injury
The Warriors were outscored 39-26 in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s loss to a Mavericks team without Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford and Derreck Lively II. In such situations, Butler — Golden State’s primary ball-handler in the clutch this season — would have probably saved the day for his team.
Curry sounded almost defeated while discussing how much the Warriors missed Butler.
“It’s obviously a tough situation,” Curry said of the Butler injury.
“First and foremost, you think about [Butler] and his recovery, and his spirits. Just trying to be there for him as a friend and teammate. But basketball-wise, we have to make the necessary adjustments to try to keep a semblance of our identity that we were forming with him as a part of that push.
“These last two games have been difficult in making that adjustment, but I think emotionally we have to try and move on as fast as possible to not let things spiral the wrong direction.”
Steve Kerr: Steph Curry is ‘Crushed’
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that Curry was trying to hold himself together following Butler’s season-ending injury, but was “crushed” by the turn of events.
“He’s crushed about Jimmy’s injury,” Kerr said of Curry, via The Athletic.
“He knows what it means and what it means to our team, and that part really hurts him. But he’s still gonna go play and enjoy the game, and enjoy his life, because he’s got it all figured out.”
Curry had a game-high 38 points but didn’t get much support from any of his supporting cast, save for De’Anthony Melton (22 points, 9-of-15 FG) and Jonathan Kuminga (10 points in nine minutes) off the bench. The latter left the game late in the second quarter with a knee/ankle injury and did not return.
It’s rather tragic that Curry will be forced to endure many such nights, where his heroic efforts won’t be enough. The iconic sharpshooter turns 38 in March.
Curry, though, is trying his level best to keep his spirits up.
“As long as I’m out there, I’m always confident we can win,” Curry said. “It’s how I play. It’s how we want to play, and until proven otherwise, you have to carry that mentality.”