There was a point in the 2024-25 NBA season where media everywhere were looking at Stephen Curry and ready to raise concerns over how much the Golden State Warriors superstar had declined. In truth, Curry just needed better help.
There were two sides of the argument. One side of the debate insisted that Curry's best days were behind him. The other side was convinced the issue lied within the supporting cast. The latter is proving more truthful.
Curry looked exhausted at several points throughout the 2024-25 season, trying to carry a lackluster offense. His scoring average hit a low that had not been seen for several seasons.
The Warriors superstar was also tasked with a lot more on-ball responsibility than he had known during his best years. Which, in turn, also made it a lot easier for defenses to hone in on guarding and doubling him.
After being reluctant to make a move all year, the Warriors finally found the right one when they traded for Jimmy Butler, acquiring the disgruntled star from the Miami Heat.
Butler has been exactly what the doctor ordered in Golden State. The six-time All-Star has alleviated a lot of pressure from Curry. Butler has also helped cut the turnovers down for the Warriors and bring a new wave of confidence to that team and locker room.
One of the easiest ways to see the positive effects from the Butler addition are to look at this one key statistic for Curry.
According to StatMamba on Twitter/X, Steph is the most efficient 25+ points per game scorer since the All-Star Break. Curry has delivered 29.5 points per game while posting a ridiculous true shooting percentage of 71. So much for the narratives calling him washed.
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The Warriors have surged up the standings after the Butler trade. They are currently occupying the sixth seed in the Western Conference, a massive boost for a team once hovering around the back of the Play-In standings.
Whether Golden State can compete for a championship this season remains to be seen, but they are certainly much closer to doing so since the addition of Butler.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM.