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Jimmy Butler uses one word to describe the Warriors' season so far
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- Jimmy Butler uses one word to describe the Warriors' season so far
Expectations were high for the Golden State Warriors , especially after Jimmy Butler 's arrival in the Bay Area sparked a revival that carried them all the way to the second round of the playoffs.
So, with a full offseason and training camp to build chemistry and improve their game, everyone expected the Warriors to come out swinging this season.
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However, at the halfway point of the season, it's safe to say that those expectations have not been met. The Warriors currently sit at a mediocre 22-19 record and are barely holding onto the eighth seed in the competitive Western Conference. And according to Jimmy, this type of showing just won't cut it.
Jimmy didn't sugarcoat anything
As much as Jimmy is renowned for his versatility, fearlessness and clutch genes, another thing that he's popular for is candor. The man will speak his mind without hesitation and even though the Warriors defeated an undermanned Portland Trail Blazers team on Tuesday night, he wasn't satisfied with their current position in the cutthroat West.
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"Mediocre," Butler answered when asked by a reporter for an assessment of their season so far.
Last season, the Warriors had a 21-20 win-loss card at the halfway point and although they're better this season, Butler expressed displeasure at how "average" they have been.
"We need to win more games, lose less games. That's just where we are," Jimmy said. "And I think it's the worst place to be, is to be mediocre. Because, like, yes, it can go either way. But, like, nobody wants to be just average. Nobody wants to be average."
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Average is precisely what the Warriors are right now. They rank 16th in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating, which tells the story of a team that has been inconsistent on both ends of the court.
Play to their strengths
Even though the Warriors have found some semblance of rhythm lately, winning nine of their last 13 contests, Butler feels they're capable of playing so much better than they are. He emphasized that one thing they must all do nightly is lean into their strengths.
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"We know what we're capable of, but we don't do it all the time. We kind of get — I don't know — is it bored with the process?" Butler surmised. "Like knowing what works and then we're just trying stuff just because we can. And we should never do that."
What has worked most this season is relying on superstar Steph Curry 's elite scoring. He continues to give Father Time a run for his money, averaging 28.8 points per game. Although he's been consistent, Jimmy knows they must help him in whatever way necessary to get wins.
As a former NBA champion and now media personality, Kendrick Perkins even declared that the Warriors must make moves to give Steph more competent support.
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"We got some good players and got one really, really, really good player. But I think to protect him and to protect everybody in this locker room, we just got to do the right stuff as often as we can and you know, stick to our strengths, shy away from those weaknesses," Jimmy conveyed.
After a few months of tweaking their rotation, it appears that head coach Steve Kerr has settled on one that has worked, giving more minutes to De'Anthony Melton and Gui Santos . However, if the Warriors intend to make noise this postseason, those names won't be enough.
Steph needs a consistent second scoring option, someone who can take the pressure off him when defenses key in on his every move.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
