Steve Kerr reveals what’s changed in Jimmy Butler’s game, and the Curry link behind it

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Golden State’s coach links the forward’s dip in impact to a key Stephen Curry dynamic.

The Golden State Warriors opened the season looking like title contenders, but their early momentum has faded. Losses to undermanned or struggling teams — including Milwaukee without Giannis, Indiana, and Portland — have highlighted a worrying lack of consistency. Injuries to Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, plus the turbulence surrounding Jonathan Kuminga, have only amplified those issues.

Now sitting in play-in territory, Golden State is searching for answers, and Steve Kerr believes one unexpected shortcoming is contributing to their slide — a decline in Butler’s ability to anchor the team when Curry is off the floor.

Steve Kerr says Butler hasn’t been able to lift the second unit like before

Kerr noted that Butler’s arrival once gave the Warriors rare stability during the non-Curry minutes, but that dynamic hasn’t carried into this season.

“When we got Jimmy, we were really good in the non-Steph minutes and we have not been as good this season,” Kerr said. “We haven’t found our rhythm with the second unit around Jimmy… you can play through him at any time whether Steph’s on the floor or not.”

The Warriors’ current struggles reflect that shift. While they post a positive net rating when Curry plays, their efficiency plummets when he rests — a gap far wider than Kerr expected given the roster’s experience.

Numbers show dramatic drop-off for Warriors without Curry

Golden State registers a 1.72 net rating with Curry on the court but sinks to -0.40 when he sits. Their three-point shooting also collapses from 39.78% to 32.92%, underscoring the team’s dependence on Curry’s gravity and rhythm.

Kerr emphasized that the Warriors have the talent to avoid these extremes: “We should be more consistent when he’s on the bench.” Last season, the Warriors were strong in the non-Curry minutes when Butler played, boasting a 13.12 net rating. This year, that figure has fallen sharply to 5.67, leaving Kerr and Butler with a clear task — restore the second-unit stability that once made Golden State look like contenders.