In the ever-crowded Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors have already proved that they have the talent to compete, but they aren’t really seen as contenders. They boast three surefire Hall of Famers between Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, and recently signed Al Horford, a likely inductee in his own right.
This season, Curry has arguably the best supporting cast of his entire career (forget about the Kevin Durant years). Still, the Warriors are not seen as title threats.
Yes, they are older and injuries could quickly pile up, but the same could be said for most teams in the playoff hunt.
To their advantage, the Warriors boast one of the best duos in the NBA, despite the pair having never played a single minute together.
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 11: De’Anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors in action against the Sacramento Kings during their preseason game at Chase Center on October 11, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
De’Anthony Melton Is Perfect for the Warriors
The Warriors played 11 games last season before De’Anthony Melton tore his ACL, ending his season. He suited up in six of those contests, averaging 10.3 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals for the Warriors while spacing the floor on and off the ball.
He would later be traded to the Brooklyn Nets, although there were immediately reports that he would return to Golden State in free agency. After the Jonathan Kuminga contract saga was finalized, Melton signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract.
Bringing him back could be the best move the Warriors made all summer.
Before injury ruled Melton out for the season, the Warriors were 9-2, which was the best record in the West. They had beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder by 11 points. Melton scored 19 to go with three steals in that game.
He posted a defensive rating of 110, good for fifth among rotation players and three points better than Butler, who was credited with saving the Warriors’ season.
Melton has always been a strong defender. He is a reliable shooter (36.9% from deep in his career) and passer. He boasts a two-to-one career assist-to-turnover ratio, which is better than Anthony Edwards and on par with Curry’s.
Thanks to his ability to play on and off the ball, he can share the floor with a traditional point guard like Curry or Brandin Podziemski, serving as a defensive wing and shooting threat. He can also run the offense for the likes of Butler, Kuminga, and Moses Moody, should the more established facilitators need a rest.
Adding a career sixth man doesn’t mean the Warriors are locks for a title run, but Melton will quietly improve their chances, especially alongside Jimmy Butler.
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 18: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks pressures Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Chase Center on March 18, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Melton and Butler Are an Overlooked NBA Duo
After the Warriors traded for Butler, they went 23-8 down the stretch. In the playoffs, they managed to upset the Houston Rockets. Butler is one of the best wing defenders in the game, an excellent scorer, and the most intense competitor in the league.
He was also more than happy to defer to Curry, Green, and Steve Kerr, and slid in effortlessly into the Warriors’ system.
The Warriors’ success with Butler is defined by their 23-8 record. The more advanced numbers point to it being more than just a fluke.
“If you look at the minutes when Curry, Butler, and Green are on the floor, they’re plus-10 per one hundred possessions,” pointed out Zach Lowe on an October 1st episode of his self-titled podcast. “Opponents shot the s*** out of it from everywhere. And the Warriors still had the number one defense in the league in that time, which suggests to me that it was all very real.”
Golden State had no problem giving up shots to its opponents. However, they were able to slow down the game on that side of the ball and forced turnovers, limiting the number of attempts their opponents would get.
Lowe also pointed out that, after Butler arrived, the Warriors improved from 28th to first in free-throw rate. They also led the league in forced turnovers after Butler came to town.
Butler is well-known as an elite team defender, and Melton has long flown under the radar. Both have positional versatility, can handle the ball, or can defer to ball-dominant players.
Expect Kerr to stagger his two better defenders. When it’s crunch time, he can cause chaos by putting them both on the floor, and they won’t step on each other’s toes.
Golden State Warriors Are Sneaky Title Contenders
As already mentioned, the Warriors were elite with Butler. They boasted a win percentage of .742 once he came to The Bay. They were .818 before Melton’s injury, admittedly with a small sample size.
It doesn’t stop there.
With either Melton or Butler healthy and on the roster, the Warriors went .686. With neither Melton nor Butler, the Warriors were .400 in 40 games, good for 14th in the West, behind the San Antonio Spurs.
Melton is not a star. Butler, Curry, and Green are, and with Horford and Kuminga rounding out the starting five, the Warriors have an excellent starting unit. Behind them are proven NBA players like Melton, Moody, Poziemski, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, Seth Curry, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
They have some injury insurance. Of course, if Curry suffers a season-ending injury, their success will stop dead in its tracks. The same could be said for any season since 2013.
Heading into the season, they have a healthy roster. The Warriors are in one of the best positions in the West. They should be taken very seriously.
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