Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler III delivered both laughs and reassurance on Saturday night, downplaying the painful fall he suffered during the team’s 104–96 win over the New Orleans Pelicans and expressing strong optimism that he will play Tuesday against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Butler, who took a violent spill in the first half, initially waved off concerns with trademark humor. Motioning to his pelvic area, the six-time All-Star told reporters his landing spot provided some natural protection.
“It’s all good. I’ll be alright. There’s a lot of cushion out there,” Butler said.
When pressed on what part of his body absorbed the impact, Butler gave a blunt answer that sent the media scrum into laughter.
“Straight ass! That’s what it was,” he said.
But once the jokes subsided, Butler shifted his tone and made it clear: he wants to be on the floor Tuesday night.
Butler: ‘I Wanna Hoop… We’ve Got a Special Team’
Butler emphasized that without franchise cornerstone Stephen Curry—currently sidelined by a right quad contusion—he feels a greater responsibility to compete, lead, and uplift the Warriors through a difficult stretch of the schedule.
“I wanna hoop, man,” Butler said. “I love competing with these guys and I think we’ve got a special team, so let’s try to go out and show that and do something special come Tuesday.”
The challenge ahead is significant. The Thunder enter Tuesday’s matchup at a historic 19–1 start, boasting the NBA’s best defense and a top-four offense behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Thunder Near Full Strength After Jalen Williams’ Return
Oklahoma City will be without center Isaiah Hartenstein for 10–14 days due to a calf strain, but the Thunder regained All-NBA wing Jalen Williams on Friday. Williams looked rusty in his season debut, scoring 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting in the Thunder’s 123–119 win over the Phoenix Suns. Even with Williams struggling, Oklahoma City showed why it has been the most dominant team in basketball.
The Warriors hope Williams remains out of rhythm for at least one more game—because every potential advantage matters as they try to survive Curry’s absence.
Warriors Lean on Butler After Curry’s Injury
Golden State’s win over New Orleans was their first without Curry, and Butler delivered the type of superstar performance the Warriors desperately needed. He finished with 24 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds while shooting 7-of-15 from the field and converting 10 of 14 free throws.
After his hard fall, Butler still managed to score 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting the rest of the way, showing no signs of the glute-area limitations that hampered him in last year’s playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
“We have two days to recover,” Butler said, describing his post-game plan: playing dominoes with Draymond Green to get “my mental right back and start to take care of this body.”
Warriors Hope to Avoid Worst-Case Scenario
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the blow Butler took but said the veteran star held up well after halftime.
“I’m sure he’ll be sore [Sunday],” Kerr said. “I asked him when it happened, ‘What hurts?’ And he said, ‘Everything.’ I told him, ‘Me too. I’m 60—I’m supposed to be hurt.’”
The Warriors cannot afford to lose Butler for any length of time, especially with Curry expected to miss at least a week. Tuesday’s showdown with the Thunder begins a crucial stretch that will determine whether Golden State stabilizes or spirals in the Western Conference standings.
Butler insists he will be ready.
And the Warriors need him now more than ever.
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