Jimmy Butler offered candid reflections following the Golden State Warriors’ season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, focusing on the absence of Stephen Curry, the impact of injuries, and his outlook with the franchise.
When asked about the effect of his fall in Game 2 against Houston on his postseason performance, Butler was direct: “Good enough to go out there and compete. We’re not going to use anything as an excuse. So just didn’t win.”
Curry missed the final four games of the series due to a hamstring injury, and Butler acknowledged the significance of that absence. “It’s very different whenever you don’t have Steph on the floor,” he said. “The room is so much smaller… everybody has to play a little bit of a different role. But that’s just the game. Injuries happen.”
Butler praised his short time with the Warriors after being traded midseason. “A bunch of great guys that work incredibly hard,” he said. “Young talent that’s going to be incredibly successful in this league.”
Despite the early playoff exit, Butler voiced optimism about the team’s potential moving forward—especially with a healthy roster. “For sure. I think we all know that. We all believe that,” Butler said when asked if this team is a title contender with Curry healthy. “It’s all about playing your basketball—the best basketball—at the right time and being healthy at the right time. Unfortunately, that wasn’t us.”
When pressed about future discussions with Curry and Draymond Green, Butler admitted no plans were set. “That’s a good question. That is a very good question. Maybe on the plane… sometime this summer. But when it happens, it will happen.”
Asked if this Warriors team has given him more confidence than previous playoff runs with undermanned rosters, Butler emphasized health and belief. “We’re going to take our chances for sure if Steph is out there,” he said. “We’ll come back and figure this thing out, and next year do the same thing.”
Defensively, Golden State struggled in their elimination game as Minnesota shot a blistering 62.8% from the field. Butler attributed the breakdown to lapses in execution. “We did it in some spurts, but not the entire game—which we needed to do,” he said.
Looking ahead, Butler remains focused and motivated. “I can’t wait to get to that point, because I don’t want to be not playing basketball,” he said. “Get comfortable. Working. Success.”
