After the Golden State Warriors ’ abrupt playoff exit, head coach Steve Kerr offered a raw, unfiltered look into what defined their postseason fate in a candid chat with Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard. Of course, it all came down to two names, the Warriors' standouts, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler . Kerr shared that Curry’s injury was the devastating point of no return for the Warriors in their playoff run.
Steve Kerr admits reason behind Golden State Warriors’ playoff exit
Steve Kerr has recently shared his candid thoughts on the Golden State Warriors’ playoff exit. “You know, as soon as we traded for Jimmy Butler, we got really good,” Kerr said. “And as soon as Steph Curry got hurt, we lost. And sometimes it’s that simple,” he shared.
Golden State’s late-season resurgence was nothing short of impressive. They closed the regular season with a 23–8 record and powered through a gritty first-round victory over the Houston Rockets, including a dramatic Game 7 road win. Much of that turnaround was sparked by Butler’s arrival. However, when Curry went down, the spark couldn’t carry them much further.
The Warriors lost their footing without their leader. And while some fans questioned Butler’s conservative shot selection late in the series (just 20 field-goal attempts combined in Games 4 and 5), Kerr pushed back on that criticism with perspective rooted in basketball IQ and system play.
“I think Jimmy, he’s a subtle superstar,” Kerr explained. “He doesn’t jump off the page when you watch him from afar... But as soon as you’re with him for a few days, you see the impact.”
Kerr went on to compare Butler to Warriors legend Andre Iguodala, who was celebrated for his intelligence, footwork, unselfishness, and ability to control the flow of a game.
“Jimmy’s main thing that he wants to do is pass. And you know me, I believe passing is the key to the game, I really do... Jimmy does all that. And that’s why we started winning.”
Some questioned if Butler should’ve taken on more of the scoring burden. Kerr addressed this head-on with a powerful comparison.
“This topic of, ‘Did Jimmy shoot enough?’ — kind of reminds me of… before LeBron (James) won any championships,” Kerr said. “He’s passing to open teammates for game-winning shots… That was the right play.”
Also Read: LeBron James makes NBA history, breaks Michael Jordan’s longstanding MVP record with latest milestone
The reality Kerr painted suggests that the Warriors were built around Curry’s gravity. Without him, the offense collapsed into tighter defensive coverage, leaving even stars like Butler stranded.
Steve Kerr admits reason behind Golden State Warriors’ playoff exit
BREAKING: The Warriors have been eliminated from the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ihnAJ62q0Q
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 15, 2025
Steve Kerr has recently shared his candid thoughts on the Golden State Warriors’ playoff exit. “You know, as soon as we traded for Jimmy Butler, we got really good,” Kerr said. “And as soon as Steph Curry got hurt, we lost. And sometimes it’s that simple,” he shared.
Golden State’s late-season resurgence was nothing short of impressive. They closed the regular season with a 23–8 record and powered through a gritty first-round victory over the Houston Rockets, including a dramatic Game 7 road win. Much of that turnaround was sparked by Butler’s arrival. However, when Curry went down, the spark couldn’t carry them much further.
The Warriors lost their footing without their leader. And while some fans questioned Butler’s conservative shot selection late in the series (just 20 field-goal attempts combined in Games 4 and 5), Kerr pushed back on that criticism with perspective rooted in basketball IQ and system play.
“I think Jimmy, he’s a subtle superstar,” Kerr explained. “He doesn’t jump off the page when you watch him from afar... But as soon as you’re with him for a few days, you see the impact.”
Kerr went on to compare Butler to Warriors legend Andre Iguodala, who was celebrated for his intelligence, footwork, unselfishness, and ability to control the flow of a game.
“Jimmy’s main thing that he wants to do is pass. And you know me, I believe passing is the key to the game, I really do... Jimmy does all that. And that’s why we started winning.”
Some questioned if Butler should’ve taken on more of the scoring burden. Kerr addressed this head-on with a powerful comparison.
“This topic of, ‘Did Jimmy shoot enough?’ — kind of reminds me of… before LeBron (James) won any championships,” Kerr said. “He’s passing to open teammates for game-winning shots… That was the right play.”
Also Read: LeBron James makes NBA history, breaks Michael Jordan’s longstanding MVP record with latest milestone
The reality Kerr painted suggests that the Warriors were built around Curry’s gravity. Without him, the offense collapsed into tighter defensive coverage, leaving even stars like Butler stranded.
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