Jimmy Butler has been playing so well that prominent members of the NBA media are being forced to backtrack on statements they made.
Due to how Butler’s time with the Miami Heat came to an end, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith and others doubted his trade to the Golden State Warriors and predicted that GSW would regret their decision. Yet, his elite play, along with the Warriors’ recent success, has brought about a change in the narrative that has surrounded him until this point in time.
Stephen A. Smith Doubted the Pairing of Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry
Not every combination of stars results in the creation of successful teams. Upon hearing that Butler was going to become a part of the Warriors, Smith was skeptical and wondered if the fit would work.
After witnessing the Warriors win five of their last six games, Smith had no choice but to go on air and recant his initial statement regarding the pairing of Butler and Curry. This is truly a rare sight as it is somewhat uncommon for members of the media to address previous bad “hot takes” and recant them.
“I think I was wrong.”@stephenasmith is shifting his perspective on Jimmy Butler and the Warriors this season 😯 pic.twitter.com/Ikknv0xdZX
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 23, 2025
“I think I was wrong when I first spoke about it…Because I’ve looked at Jimmy Butler, and I said we know what a big-time player he is, but does he and Steph mesh? I don’t see that, and I still see them as undersized…”
While there is no denying that the Warriors now have a smaller lineup with Butler on the court, Smith also pointed out that the pairing of Butler and Curry has a great deal of potential. After all, Butler can frequently drive to the rim and get foul calls, which would inadvertently give Curry more time to rest and keep moving.
Since this new Warriors squad has played in just six games together, it might be too soon to deliver a verdict on how the duo of Curry and Butler stack up against the best players in the league.
In any case, they’ve already begun to disprove doubters to the extent that harsh criticism of their fitting together is being recanted. Fans are left wondering how far this duo will be able to carry Golden State this season.
