The Golden State Warriors started things off on the right foot on Tuesday night with a 119-109 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their regular season opener. Jimmy Butler was huge for the team, continuing to give them something offensively that they've been missing.
We got a taste of what Butler could provide for the Warriors last season as the team went 23-7 with the 6x All-Star after they traded for him last season. Last night's performance was just another reminder of the new dimension he provides Golden State.
Jimmy Butler provides key missing dimension for Warriors offense
Butler had 31 points and shot 50 percent from the floor while getting to the free-throw line 16 times, making all as the Warriors went 26-of-29 as a team. It was a classic Butler performance that just reinforces how wise the Warriors were to go out and acquire him last season.
In particular, Butler's ability to drive to the basket and either score or get to the free-throw line in the paint is a breath of fresh air for this team. Not since maybe Kevin Durant have the Warriors had a legitimate scoring threat who could get to the rim with regularity.
Sure, some others have done it at times like Andrew Wiggins and, to a lesser extent, Jordan Poole, but Butler's free throw percentage is much better than Wiggins' which is another reason why the Warriors dealt him to the Miami Heat despite doing so many good things as a Warrior and being a crucial part of the 2022 championship team.
It really matters that Butler provides this dimension to the team's offense because beforehand, it definitely seemed like the Warriors could get a little bit too one-dimensional with their offense and would shoot from the perimeter too often.
Jimmy called bank 🙌pic.twitter.com/9FRmciQW4s
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 22, 2025
That strategy can work and the 3-pointer is obviously always going to be a big part of Golden State's offense with Stephen Curry running the show, but it is essential that the team can score in other ways so it takes the pressure off Curry and other shooters on the team.
Curry did not have his best night, making just three of his nine three-point attempts, yet it didn't matter in large part because of Butler's dominance.
Going forward this season, the Warriors are going to need Butler to keep on driving to the rim and doing the things he does best, opening up the offense and taking pressure off everyone else within the Steve Kerr system.