While he is likely to miss the team’s final preseason outing, Jimmy Butler remains on track to play in the Golden State Warriors’ regular-season opener. According to Coach Steve Kerr, Butler is DOUBTFUL to play against the LA Clippers, citing the same ankle injury that prompted an MRI on Monday. However, that scan returned “clean,” with Kerr assuring, “We’re not concerned.”
This confidence stems from the impact Butler has demonstrated since joining the team at last February’s trade deadline, immediately shifting the Warriors’ season outlook onto an upward trajectory. Coach Kerr praised the star’s basketball IQ, stating, “It’s been seamless, and it’s because of Jimmy’s IQ. He has an incredible feel… he’s making the right reads and in the right place on both ends.”
Butler’s influence is felt not just by the coaching staff but by his teammates as well. Star Stephen Curry shared his enthusiasm, noting, “Every possession doesn’t feel as hard. You have to worry about someone else. If there is a double and you get off it, something good is going to happen on the back end.” Curry further emphasized, “He’s a shot creator, a finisher, somebody that you have to take into account no matter where he’s on the floor. He plays at his own speed, can get to the foul line and takes advantage of matchups. He’s a competitor at the highest of levels.”
Butler’s absence against the Clippers will serve as a mandatory test for the Warriors’ bench, forcing the team to prove its depth. However, this “next-man-up” mentality will not be confined to the preseason. As Curry stated at the end of last season, “(We’re) just trying to be in a position where we’re somewhere in the top of the Western Conference, and not have to be on the gas pedal all the way down the stretch… hopefully we’re all healthy come April.”
The Warriors begin their regular season on October 21st against the Los Angeles Lakers. If Butler plays as intended, he could provide a significant leg up against an opponent that will be without LeBron James for the first three to four weeks of the season.