The internet doesn’t need a lot to spiral, and Saturday night offered just enough fuel for a new NBA rumor to catch fire. It was Game 3 of the Timberwolves vs. Warriors playoff series, where vintage playoff Jimmy showed up, while Draymond Green managed 2 points. Fouls, turnovers, poor shot selection, and the Warriors had let a very winnable game slip. But making conversations wasn’t even this disappointing collapse.

During the game, a clip began circulating on social media that claimed to show Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. in the background of the broadcast, sharing an intimate moment with a blonde woman. But how real was it to dominate the game conversations this Saturday?

Where did the viral Warriors GM’s clip come from?

The clip was originally posted by the parody Twitter account NBA Centel — a play on the legitimate NBA Central. The caption? “Warriors’ GM Mike Dunleavy in the background. 💀” with a video attached showing a man, vaguely resembling Dunleavy, making out with a woman during a crowd shot. The fact that Dunleavy’s wife Sarah, is blonde only helped the visual misinformation spiral.

Except there’s one major issue: it wasn’t him.

Fans on Reddit and Twitter were quick to put the rumor to rest. As several viewers pointed out, Dunleavy was shown earlier in the ABC broadcast wearing a different colored suit and seated several rows behind the Warriors’ bench. In contrast, the man in the viral clip wasn’t in the same seat, wasn’t dressed the same, and wasn’t surrounded by the same people. One Reddit user noted, “The dude in the video is near someone in a bright blue shirt. In Dunleavy’s actual seating shot, that person isn’t there.”

More importantly, NBA Centel is a known parody account. Its content is meant to amuse, provoke, and occasionally mislead, especially when it comes to rumor-baiting in high-profile moments. But given the stakes of the NBA Playoffs and the reputation attached to Dunleavy, the tweet moved from parody to perceived scandal within hours.

It’s also important to note that Dunleavy is known for keeping his personal life extremely private. He and his wife Sarah, whom he met at Duke University, have been married since 2008 and share four children together. Despite Mike’s public-facing role as GM of one of the league’s most storied franchises, the couple maintains a low profile.

Sarah is active in charitable circles, often appearing with Mike at events—but they intentionally keep their family life out of the spotlight. Photos of their kids are notably absent from social media. That makes speculation like this not only baseless, but deeply invasive.

Hence, this wasn’t a celebrity caught off guard. It was a lookalike, a meme, and a case study in how parody can quickly mutate into false reporting. Dunleavy has neither responded nor needed to — because there’s nothing there.

What Mike Dunleavy Should Be Worried About

If there’s one thing Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. should be losing sleep over, it isn’t a viral clip—it’s his roster.

Saturday’s Game 3 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves pushed the Warriors into a 2-1 hole in the Western Conference Semifinals. The 102-97 defeat didn’t just sting because of the scoreline. It laid bare a painful truth: without Steph Curry, this team is vulnerable, even with Jimmy Butler dropping 33 and Jonathan Kuminga putting up a playoff career-high 30.

Draymond Green fouled out with 4:38 to play. With the team down two, Green’s ejection deflated the Warriors’ defense and composure. Minnesota, led by Anthony Edwards’ 36-point explosion and Julius Randle’s triple-double (24 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds), closed the game with a 33-24 fourth quarter to seize the lead in the series.

Dunleavy’s midseason acquisition of Butler and prior roster shakeups gave the Warriors a last-minute jolt. But Saturday showed the margin for error is slim. Without Curry’s gravity and ability to stretch defenses, the Warriors looked disjointed, even desperate. Steve Kerr played 14 players—a rotation chaos rarely seen in the postseason—in search of any offensive spark.

And yet, Minnesota had the answers. Randle’s control in crunch time. Edwards’ response to Chris Finch’s Game 1 criticism with 28 second-half points. Gobert’s presence. The Timberwolves didn’t just win—they imposed their tempo. The game felt like a passing of the torch.

The subtext? The Warriors may be nearing their final chapter. Curry is out with a hamstring injury that could sideline him through Game 6. Butler, despite his fire, looks worn out. Kuminga is rumored to be on the trade block. The defense is inconsistent. And Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors are swirling.

Bleacher Report’s mock trade suggests the Warriors could ship out Butler and two first-rounders in a play for Giannis. It’s the kind of blockbuster that hints at desperation, not confidence. Milwaukee would likely demand more, and with Golden State short on tradeable assets, their position isn’t ideal.

If they lose this series, the Warriors aren’t just facing elimination. They’re facing identity crisis. Dunleavy’s challenge? Reshape this roster before the championship window closes completely. Because if Steph returns too late, or worse, not at all, the conversation shifts from missed chances to full-scale rebuild.

As for the fake makeout clip? That’ll be forgotten by next week. What won’t be forgotten is whether the Warriors let their era slip away before everyone was ready to say goodbye.