The Golden State Warriors’ fortunes have turned since acquiring Jimmy Butler. His veteran presence, offensive versatility, and ability to control the game have made life easier for his teammates—especially Stephen Curry. For years, the Warriors struggled whenever their superstar sat, forcing Curry into heavy minutes and exhausting him as the season wore on. But now? That problem might finally be solved.

As Steve Kerr put it, the team is “more comfortable when Steph goes to the bench”—a shift that could be critical as the 36-year-old star aims to stay fresh for the playoffs. And while Butler has been the biggest catalyst in making that possible, he’s not the only one benefiting. Brandin Podziemski’s growth is another major subplot in the Warriors’ resurgence.

Steve Kerr was interviewed after the Warriors’ recent 121-115 win against the Orlando Magic. The recent matchup will certainly go down in the history books, as fans at the Kia Center in Florida saw Stephen Curry drop his season-high 56 points! Unfortunately, it did not serve as a good example of what the Warriors can now achieve when Steph is on the bench. Kerr had other games as examples to make his case.

“Well, I just think, we’re more comfortable when Steph goes to the bench, which is a big deal. Tonight wasn’t our best night in that regard. But, I think overall, Jimmy gives us a little confidence that, that that we needed. And, and then when he’s with Steph, you see how smart he is, how the ball moves, possessions connect, and same with BP (Brandin Podziemski)” said Kerr.

“So, when those guys are out there with Steph, like, you know, BP and Jimmy didn’t shoot it well tonight, but multiple possessions where they’re driving closeouts, swinging the ball, creating an advantage, and then Steph ends up with a shot on the backside. So, it all matters”.

Even after 16 years in the NBA, Stephen Curry has continued to show that his offensive prowess remains better than more than half of the league. There is no better example than his recent performance. However, it is important to remember that the player is also 36 years of age, and more prone to exhaustion than before. On top of that, him getting injured right at the playoffs stage would be the Warriors’ biggest disadvantage.

In light of this, the more rest Curry would get by letting the secondary point guard handle things, the better. Unfortunately, the secondary point guard happens to be Brandin Podziemski. Over the last 46 games, the 22-year-old has only averaged 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Before Butler’s acquisition, the team was already holding a 25-26 record. To have even a fighting chance, the Warriors had to use Stephen Curry more. Now, with Butler on their side, the team can allow Curry to be benched for longer durations.

Jimmy Butler has helped the Golden State Warriors go on a major surge. His average score of 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists highlights just one part of his overall contribution. After all, his guidance is helping change Brandin Podziemski’s fortunes too.

Steve Kerr indicates Brandin Podziemski being the biggest winner of Jimmy Butler trade: “It’s fun to watch”

After the Warriors’ 126-102 win against the Dallas Mavericks, Brandin Podziemski’s performance was lauded as much as Curry’s. After all, with that performance, the young star had made 18, 21, and 17 points in his last three outings. On top of that, Podziemski had also made 13 rebounds against the Mavs.

Even Steve Kerr praised his player by stating, “He looks really good. Brandin is so smart and he recognizes plays before they happen. And so the connection that he’s got with Draymond and Jimmy, just making these reads, it’s fun to watch”. Yes, that connection helped change Brandin Podziemski’s fortunes, as receiving some assistance helped in the increase of his own individual prowess.

“Those guys, like I said, I think those three together, their defensive numbers are off the charts good. And so they help each other. And then BP is constantly finishing the possession with a rebound. He’s such a great rebounder. So it all seems to make sense with that combination,” Kerr added.

When discussing Butler and Podziemski specifically, he further added, “Both guys just make winning plays. And when they’re out there together they complement each other really well.”

With a 32-27 win record, the Warriors now occupy the 7 seed on the Western Conference points table. Whether Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler’s partnership can help to further improve upon this scenario is something that remains to be seen.