SAN FRANCISCO — The season over, Stephen Curry stopped earlier than making his approach out of Chase Middle for a handshake and lengthy embrace with Draymond Inexperienced.
These two longtime teammates are dedicated to creating one other championship run collectively, and now with Jimmy Butler by their facet, realizing there may not be too many alternatives left.
Curry expressed disappointment at how Golden State’s season ended, with him on the bench unable to assist due to a hamstring harm.
The Warriors have been eradicated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 121-110 Recreation 5 loss Wednesday night time within the Western Convention semifinals — Golden State’s fourth straight recreation with out Curry due to a strained left hamstring since he was damage within the second quarter of Recreation 1 final week.
At 37 and with 16 NBA seasons to his title, Curry realizes NBA titles and postseason berths are now not assured and that there might solely be a handful of possibilities remaining for him, Butler, Inexperienced and with Steve Kerr as coach.
“All we wished was an opportunity, and to complete the 12 months like we did, to sneak within the playoffs and win that first spherical, there’s rather a lot to be happy with for positive, contemplating the place we have been,” Curry mentioned. “However undoubtedly dissatisfied, and albeit simply unhappy that I wasn’t on the market capable of play. Now we have hopefully a shiny future by way of coming again subsequent 12 months and making an attempt once more.”
The place the Warriors have been solely three months in the past was trying to find solutions — till basic supervisor Mike Dunleavy pulled off buying Butler on the commerce deadline from Miami in a transfer that despatched Andrew Wiggins to the Warmth.
Butler led the best way on each ends of the ground, much more so throughout Curry’s latest absence.
“I’m utterly content material with who I’m as a basketball participant, the best way that I play the sport,” he mentioned. “And to return right here and know that I’m second to Steph, I believe that’s a very good factor, truly, if you discuss one of many best gamers ever to play this recreation.”
Golden State wound up 29-15 since Butler’s first recreation Feb. 8 at Chicago, 23-8 within the common season, a play-in win in opposition to Memphis and 5-7 by two playoff collection.
Butler blended into the system superbly, and he isn’t satisfied this core group has a two-year window to win all of it.
“Yeah, after which if we win some, it may very well be longer than that as a result of I nonetheless suppose that we now have a number of nice basketball left forward of us,” he mentioned. “I don’t suppose this age factor is something the best way that everyone is taking good care of their our bodies, doing proper. I believe the potential is there.”
All people is keen to have a coaching camp collectively, even with adjustments anticipated throughout the summer time and free company interval. Ahead Jonathan Kuminga’s future is likely one of the largest urgent questions of the offseason as he’s anticipated to turn out to be a restricted free agent in July.
“I have never thought of something but,” mentioned Kuminga, the staff’s seventh total draft choose in 2021.
For now, Curry plans to take a basketball break and concentrate on household. He averaged 24.5 factors, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds enjoying 32-plus minutes per recreation.
If individuals are calling him the outdated man nowadays, he is wonderful with that.
“One, it’s an final praise as a result of it’s a part of the extent that you just’re enjoying at. Like, ‘Oh, he’s nonetheless doing it at this age,’” Curry mentioned. “Two, it’s a reminder of your basketball mortality and appreciating each second that you’ve got. That’s why the best way this ended was emotional because it was, not having the ability to play in these massive video games since you don’t know what number of extra alternatives you’ll have.
“However I believe the distinction on and off the courtroom, like seeing my household and seeing my youngsters develop and alternatives off the courtroom, it permits me to simply have enjoyable and respect this chapter of my life as a lot as doable, realizing that hopefully the subsequent chapter is as nice, however this one I’m making an attempt to get each little bit of enjoyable and expertise and squeeze as a lot juice out of this as doable.”
