Warriors star Jimmy Butler didn’t hold back after Golden State’s tough loss to the Rockets on Wednesday. He called out his teammates for not putting in enough effort and said Steph Curry shouldn’t have to be “Batman” every single night. The team dropped to a 10-10 record, falling back to .500 after losing their fourth game in five tries.
The Warriors started the season hoping to win a championship, but they haven’t looked like a strong team. Butler’s comments show that the problems go deeper than just bad luck. The loss to Houston was especially disappointing because Golden State built a double-digit lead going into halftime but completely fell apart in the third quarter.
The Warriors used to be one of the best third-quarter teams in the league, but against the Rockets, they went 0-for-8 from three-point range in that quarter. They lost all their momentum and couldn’t make shots when the game was close. To make things worse, Curry suffered a quad contusion after a collision late in the game and limped off the court. According to Sports Illustrated, he’s set to get an MRI on the injury.
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Butler puts the blame on players, not the coaching staff
Butler led the team with 21 points, but it wasn’t enough to win. He was critical when talking to reporters after the game, saying the team’s best player can’t be expected to carry everyone every night. He defended Coach Steve Kerr and put the blame on the players instead.
“We don’t box out. We don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want. Open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad,” Butler said. “I don’t care what Steve [Kerr] says. It’s not on him, and it’s not on the coaches. They write everything up there for us to do, and they put us in the position to be successful.”
Butler added that the coaches go over the game plan the day before and the day of each game, but the players need to go out and execute. He told people not to listen when Kerr takes the blame, saying it’s on the guys in the locker room instead. The team’s struggles come at a bad time, especially with growing concerns about Curry’s health issues sending shockwaves through the organization.
Draymond Green also had harsh words about the team’s performance. His comments were even stronger than Butler’s, especially about the defense. “Our defense is s***. We are individually – I know everyone likes to twist words – I said WE are individually f***ing awful,” Green said.
Less than a year ago, Butler talked about finding his “joy” again after his drama-filled exit from the Heat and trade to Golden State. Now, he’s likely looking for that feeling again as the team struggles. Curry, who recently made headlines with his surprise jersey entrance and sneakers, needs to stay healthy for the Warriors to have any chance. The Warriors need to fix things quickly and will try to bounce back against the Pelicans on Saturday.
Published: Nov 28, 2025 03:45 pm