Baron Davis feels the key to the Golden State Warriors unlocking their potential is by adding an “athletic big.” The Warriors turned their season around following the Jimmy Butler trade, with the six-time All-Star helping revive Golden State’s season. The team was 25-26 at the time of the Butler acquisition and then went 23-8 in the ensuing 31 games. Butler’s arrival paved the way for the Warriors to win their first round series and advance to the second round. If not for a Stephen Curry injury that sidelined him for the last four games of the season, the Warriors’ playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves may have looked a lot different, says Davis. “They’re solid contenders now,” the former Warriors star told Basketball Insiders in an exclusive interview. “Steph getting hurt in that series kind of really derailed them and their momentum. But having Jimmy now playing that Robin character to Steph, it just gives you a different flow. Defenses are geared towards Steph, and now having Jimmy — who knows how to get a bucket, how to get to the free throw line — the Warriors can play (many different styles).” -via Basketball Insiders / June 6, 2025
