The Golden State Warriors’ season is done, and the verdicts on a mixed campaign are coming in.
With plenty of twists and turns in the 2024-25 season, Golden State Warriors fans certainly cannot say the experience was a dull one.
The ultimate highlight of the Warriors’ season was the blockbuster acquisition of Jimmy Butler. After a crushing midseason struggle that sent them outside the Play-In picture, Golden State skyrocketed with a late-season push en route to an NBA Playoff appearance.
Their fairytale run came to an unfortunate end as when they collapsed in five games in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, after Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury derailed their chances of advancing further.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesBob Myers addresses Golden State Warriors’ season
It might be a disappointing ending, but the journey back to relevance has been promising for the Warriors, after falling in the Play-In Tournament in 2024.
The arrival of Butler gave the Warriors a renewed hope and optimism that is expected to carry into next season.
Bob Myers has been a huge fan of the Butler trade for Golden State. Speaking to ESPN’s NBA Countdown, the former Warriors’ title-winning top executive offered words of praise summarizing the team’s season progress.
He said: “Rewind three months ago, this was a team that was .500 or below, going nowhere, talking about making the Play-In. Then they make a trade. Mike Dunleavy makes a trade for Jimmy Butler, and they go on a tear.
“Steph has said it, he just wanted a fighter’s chance. He wanted to play in meaningful games.
“They had a fighter’s chance against Minnesota. They beat the Rockets. Would they have had a fighter’s chance against Oklahoma City or Denver? Yeah, I think they would have if he’d stayed healthy.
“At this point in his career, I don’t think he’s saying, “I have to have a top-two roster in the league. I have to be the favorite.” He’s not. He’s been there. He’s had that. You can’t have that for 15 years of your career.”
Myers also praised the Warriors players and staff for not blaming their collapse against the Timberwolves on Curry’s injury.
He said: “I’m proud of what the Warriors said after. They weren’t saying, ‘Well, we would have won with Steph.’ They said, ‘Look, credit to Minnesota.’
“Will they try to improve? Sure, they’ll try. How do they improve? We could talk for an hour about the rules, the money they have, the options they have. But I think Steph got what he wanted—which was a shot.”
Bob Myers defends Jimmy Butler’s struggles
Some analysts pinned the blame on the Warriors capitulating against the Timberwolves on Jimmy Butler.
After injuring his hamstring in the series opener, there were reports that Curry was targeting a Game 6 return. But unfortunately, Minnesota already dispatched Golden State in five games.
Butler disappeared when it mattered the most. He just averaged 15.5 points out of 10.0 field goal attempts over the past two games of the series.
Draymond Green already defended Butler’s struggles. And for Myers, it’s unfair to put all the blame on the Warriors star, also pointing to the injury he sustained against the Rockets.
“We can criticize Jimmy Butler, and it’s fair, but I would go into any battle with that guy. I believe he’s a winner. … If he needed to get one game, I think Game 3 was the game. He couldn’t do it by himself,” Myers argued.
“And look, he didn’t make an excuse, but you better believe that tailbone, that pelvic injury, that doesn’t just go away in three days. That would be my caveat. But I still believe in Jimmy Butler.”
With a full offseason of preparation in front of them, expect Curry, Butler, Green and the rest of the Warriors to run it back and try again next year.