After a sloppy start to the season, who could have guessed that the Warriors would eventually go 9-1? Well, it’s the Jimmy Butler effect. At least, that’s how Stephen Curry sees it. But a month ago, the mood in the Golden State locker room was completely different, with a Warriors’ insider revealing a much more downbeat picture following the trade situation.

As the fates of Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins were unfolding, Tim Kawakami was in the locker room, witnessing the behind-the-scenes emotions. Recalling the moment on The TK Show, he told the franchise’s GM, Mike Dunleavy, “I was in Salt Lake City the night the trade went down, and that locker room was really interesting. I’m sure you’ve heard about it. And my immediate sense was that the reason why they’re so sad about losing Wiggins is the reason why Jimmy is going to work here.”

Clearly, Stephen Curry and his teammates were upset about Wiggins’ departure, as the swingman had been with the franchise for about four seasons and played a part in their last championship title. Just when they felt everything was coming together, he was unexpectedly traded. But on the flip side, Jimmy’s trade wasn’t even on the cards at the time.

Sure, the Warriors had their sights set on Jimmy Butler earlier, but that interest faded, especially after the veteran forward’s relationship soured with his former team, the Miami Heat. Later, the Warriors were reportedly open to bringing Kevin Durant back, while Jimmy was expected to land in Phoenix. However, that deal fell through. And Jimmy was ultimately traded to the San Francisco side, which turned out to be a win for both the player and the team.

But here’s the thing, the acceptance of Jimmy in a locker room still grieving over their player’s exit wouldn’t have been easy without one thing that Dunleavy pointed out.

Warriors GM makes a bold statement about culture in welcoming Jimmy Butler trade

If you remember, Stephen Curry and head coach Steve Kerr were reportedly not keen on bringing Jimmy Butler aboard. They preferred focusing on the future rather than rushing into a win-now mindset that could jeopardize long-term success. But that’s all in the past now. Once the trade was announced, they seemed to accept it. And according to the Warriors GM, that’s exactly what the Warriors’ culture is all about.

Dunleavy explained on the podcast, “Knowing our environment, our culture and what it’s like here with Steve, who’s been the coach here for a long time. And then we have the players like we do with Steph and Draymond (Green) feel really confident and comfortable where we can bring a player like Jimmy into the mix or any player for that matter. And they’re going to be really happy.”

He confidently stated that no matter which player the franchise believes is best for them, they can bring in, and the players, along with Coach Kerr, will accept them without disrupting the team dynamic. “They’re going to get into the fold. They’re going to fit in seamlessly. I think that’s a huge part of our comfort level with this thing, is our group, our culture,” Dunleavy boldly added.

Further expressing gratitude for the Warriors’ strong foundation and teamwork, he said, “I’m lucky to be able to have that, to say, hey, we can add anybody we feel like is necessary under any circumstances. And that’s reflective of what Steve and Steph and these guys have done.”

That’s for sure, as Jimmy Butler was welcomed with open arms and given the recognition he had been missing in Miami lately. This boost has helped him perform at his best, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.3 steals over the 13 games he’s played. And you’d be surprised to know that with the 6x All-Star on the roster, the team has managed to maintain a 12-1 record. The stats speak for themselves. Now, their sole focus is to make the most of this trade, with one goal in mind– a Larry O’Brien Trophy, of course.