With the trade deadline looming, the Warriors weren’t just browsing—they were on a mission to shake up the roster. Word was, they were getting “desperate” to land a big name. Then came the gut punch: the Lakers went out and snagged Luka Doncic. That move didn’t just turn heads—it lit a fire under Golden State. So, they hit the phones, working every angle to make a splash of their own to slot alongside the lone Splash brother Stephen Curry.

The Warriors switched gears and locked in on Jimmy Butler as their primary trade target. By Wednesday night, they pulled the trigger on a deal with Miami.

ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk detailed the shocking moment Andrew Wiggins found out he was traded, describing an unusual scene that even forced the media out of the locker room. “I’ve been covering the league since 1997, I’ve seen a lot of crazy things happen. Nothing like last night,” Youngmisuk said.

After his pre-game warmup, Wiggins sat down with an assistant coach to review film, but things took a turn. “That computer gets shut early. Both of them look at each other, and it looks like Wiggins has found out he’s been traded. Now Steph Curry comes out, daps him up, and that’s when I realized something’s going on, right?”

“Steph Curry had to come back from his pregame warm-up. Yeah, you know, that’s like a sacred pregame routine for Steph. That’s when we knew something was really up,” he added. Getting into the “zone” for Curry is crucial. And the ‘Chef’ paused that for Wiggins. It obviously meant something big had happened.

The Heat landed Wiggins and Golden State’s 2025 first-round pick, while Butler packed his bags for the Bay. And as Jimmy landed in the Bay Area, he made a major promise to the Dub Nation. He said, “Yo dub Nation! Jimmy Butler here. Just touched down to do this physical. Super excited, ready to win, ready to work, ready to put on the trophy y’all. Let’s get it! Championship coming soon,” he declared.

Only time will tell if this promise holds true. For now, the Butler-Curry pairing will be exciting to see. Also, remember that in the future, if Steph pauses his pre-game ritual, something huge is happening or about to go down. But what exactly is his pre-game ritual?

Stephen Curry’s pre-game ritual explained

Stephen Curry doesn’t just warm up—he puts on a full-blown performance. If you’ve ever been to a Warriors game early, you’ve probably seen the madness. Fans pack the arena just to watch him go through his 20-minute routine, cameras flashing like it’s a Hollywood premiere. Even opposing teams have started letting people in early because, let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to see the greatest shooter of all time in action?

It all starts in the tunnel. The Warriors superstar sprints out at full speed with his hoodie on, launching himself onto the court while the crowd erupts. No wasted motions—he gets straight to work. First up: ballhandling. Crossovers, between-the-legs dribbles, even some backwards movement—effortless but precise. Then he transitions into touch shots—lefty floaters, righty high-arcing finishes, working his way around the key.

And then? Showtime!

He starts draining mid-range shots, then steps behind the arc, launching a mix of pull-ups, catch-and-shoots, and impossible off-the-dribble looks. Swish. Swish. Swish. It’s ridiculous how automatic he is. You can feel the energy shift as the crowd leans in, waiting for the grand finale.

That’s when he heads to the tunnel. One, two, maybe five attempts—but when he finally sinks that signature 40-footer, the place goes nuts. He daps up security, signs some autographs, and then sprints full-speed back to the locker room, slamming into the wall to stop himself.

His teammates don’t even look up. They know. The warm-up was a show. Now it’s time for the real one.