Not long ago, the Warriors looked like they were circling the drain. They couldn’t find a rhythm, Steve Kerr seemed out of answers, and let’s be real—most of us were ready to count them out. But then came a plot twist straight out of an NBA soap opera: Jimmy Butler left Miami and landed in the Bay.

That move? It flipped their whole vibe. Before Butler’s arrival, Golden State was stuck on the outside of the play-in race. Now? They’ve gone 19-5 and look like a team nobody wants to face. But Thursday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena between the Warriors and Lakers had an unexpected twist—Jimmy Butler left early with an injury.

While the Warriors won without Jimmy, we now have an update on the 6x All-Star. After the game, Butler addressed the injury with his usual grit but didn’t sugarcoat the uncertainty. “Yeah, part of the game—getting nicked up a little bit,” he said. “I hope that I’m gonna drive, so we’ll see you tomorrow.”

Pressed on whether he had undergone any medical testing, Butler admitted, “No, not yet. I think we all was really focused on getting this one. So I tried to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s focus.”

As for the possibility of further testing, Butler didn’t rule it out. “Maybe, probably. I hope not, but like I said, we’ll see how I feel in the morning.”

Despite the injury, the 34-year-old emphasized his drive to compete and praised others around the league who are pushing through the same late-season grind. “Everybody’s banged up this time of year,” he said. “You see Steph banged up—he’s going out there and doing it. You gotta compete with my guys.”

Butler had logged four points, three boards, two steals, and one assist in 24 minutes before his early exit. With the playoffs approaching fast, Warriors fans will be holding their breath for good news when Friday morning rolls around.

Funny enough, Jimmy’s impact didn’t just catch Dub Nation’s attention—it made waves on the other bench too.

Even LeBron James recognises the impact Jimmy Butler has had on the Warriors

LeBron James has seen the Golden State Warriors evolve more than most players in the league. He’s gone to war with them before Kevin Durant ever showed up, clashed with them during the KD era, and now he’s facing a squad powered by Jimmy Butler. If there’s anyone who understands how this team ticks, it’s him.

After the Lakers took the L on Thursday night, LeBron gave credit where it was due. “I’ve had to go against them when they added Kevin Durant,” he said. “Jimmy Butler is great, he adds a toughness to them, he adds a championship-DNA type of guy. It’s always the same, they always figure it out, they always add someone that makes them dynamic.”

And let’s be real—he hit the nail on the head.

Golden State’s chemistry is clicking right when it matters most. Jimmy hasn’t just slid into the system—he’s leveled it up. On the flip side, the Lakers are still trying to sync things up with Luka Doncic, and it’s been anything but smooth. The numbers don’t lie either. That win put the Warriors just one game behind L.A. for the fourth seed, and one ahead of the Clippers at the eighth spot.

It felt like a big-time win for the Dubs—but this playoff race? It’s just heating up. And if you’re a fan of chaos and clutch moments, buckle up. The West isn’t giving anybody room to breathe.