Gilbert Arenas spoke passionately concerning the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler’s function on the staff. He feels Butler is not the staff’s finest second possibility, and Eddie Johnson agrees with that sentiment.
The Golden State Warriors have an attention-grabbing staff heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. They’ve one of many league’s oldest core teams of gamers, headlined by Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. They’re the star gamers on this staff and probably the most harmful choices offensively.
Butler is used to being the Miami Warmth’s go-to participant, however will seemingly be a second possibility in Golden State. He carried out properly within the second half of the 2024-25 season, however the true check might be taking part in a full coaching camp.
Sadly, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has as soon as once more made his regular overblown statements. This time, he stated Butler isn’t a real second possibility for the Warriors. Which may be a far-fetched declare, however NBA player-turned-commentator Eddie Johnson agrees. Johnson and Arenas might have upside as he performs a extra unselfish fashion.
Johnson, a former NBA participant and present commentator, follows the league very carefully. Johnson thinks Butler is a proficient participant, however feels he could also be a bit of too passive. It is the identical sentiment Dwyane Wade has expressed earlier than.
Contemplating Wade performed alongside Butler on the Chicago Bulls, he is conversant in how the veteran wing performs basketball. Now that he has joined the Warriors, most count on him to be a second possibility alongside Curry. Fortunately for the Warriors, Butler is motivated, particularly after the debacle in opposition to the Warmth.
Nonetheless, Arenas and Johnson word that Butler’s fashion of play might disappoint some. He is not an explosive scorer like Klay Thompson or Jordan Poole, who Curry is used to taking part in with. Butler is a slightly methodical participant who likes to be a playmaker and infrequently scores factors on the free throw line.
“The truth that Gilbert saved his mouth shut and stated that ought to frustrate Butler, however is he fallacious? My reply isn’t any, Jimmy goes to carry off offensively. And I have been saying for years that he must be extra aggressive offensively, particularly this 12 months,” Johnson stated on X in response to Arenas’ phrases.
With Steve Kerr’s offense, the Warriors can at all times rating a ton of factors. They love off-ball motion, which might be what Stephen Curry does finest. Nonetheless, the roster additionally has elite off-ball movers reminiscent of Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield.
Butler is not a typical Warriors participant, however he proved he can work inside Kerr’s system in the course of the second half of the 2024-25 season. Though it might be troublesome at first, Butler is called a superb teammate to work with.
Arenas and Johnson might say he is a bit of too passive offensively, however that might change. With Kerr, Curry and Draymond Inexperienced backing him up as a secondary star, Butler might emerge because the Warriors’ high participant.
Golden State’s roster is sweet sufficient to compete in opposition to the highest groups within the Western Convention. It is going to be a problem, however Butler and the remainder of the staff are able to show they should be a high staff within the West.
