You know how the NBA world is, right? All high stakes and drama on the court. But then you get these little glimpses behind the curtain, these moments that show you the real bonds between these superstars. And when it’s between teammates who maybe, on paper, didn’t seem like an obvious match? That’s when fans really start talking. Case in point: a pretty cool gesture from Jimmy Butler to his Warriors teammate, Stephen Curry, that’s got people buzzing, especially with some fresh details dropping about how Jimmy even ended up in Golden State.

So, here’s the scoop that lit up the internet, thanks to fan account @jinthirty: Jimmy Butler, never one for subtlety, hooked Steph Curry up with a wine oak barrel, complete with Curry’s iconic No. 30. And because Jimmy’s gotta be Jimmy, he got one for himself too, repping his own No. 10. He even shared a video on his Instagram story, calling Steph “my point guard!”

Butler, who is a massive wine guy, has a wine collection that will put anyone’s to shame. He has about 11,000 bottles, including 7,500 in a custom-designed cellar at his off-season home in San Diego. Butler even vividly remembers when he started drinking wine. “I started drinking wine on September the 14th of 2013,” he told Robb Report last month. It was courtesy of Mark Wahlberg and that started a whole new love affair.

So what he has done for Curry is a pretty slick move, right? A clear sign that things are clicking, and it definitely makes you look twice when you hear the Warriors were actually a bit nervous before they traded for him.

Let’s rewind the tape a little. When the Warriors made that blockbuster mid-season deal for Jimmy Buckets, it was a huge gamble. They sent Andrew Wiggins – a key piece of their 2022 title – and more to Miami. And according to NBA insider Kevin O’Connor, big names in the Warriors camp, including Curry and Coach Steve Kerr, had real doubts. Their main worry? Jimmy’s intense personality and how it would mesh after all the “messy Heat exit” drama. You can see why they’d wonder if he’d fit the Warriors’ vibe.

But a crucial chat changed things. Steve Kerr revealed he talked to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who knows Jimmy as well as anyone. “Erik Spoelstra told me immediately — he said, ‘He’s going to be great for you,'” Kerr shared. “I trust him. I believed him, and he was right.” That’s a heck of an endorsement.

And Kerr’s been thrilled with Butler ever since. Those “messy fit” worries? Ancient history. Kerr called coaching Jimmy an “absolute dream” and praised him as “the model citizen.” High praise indeed. Butler backed it up on the court too. After he arrived in February, the Warriors caught fire, winning 23 of the 30 regular-season games he played.

Even though their season ended with a thud against the Timberwolves in the second round (with Curry missing most of that series due to a hamstring and Butler struggling in the last two games), Steph Curry has been loud and clear about the Butler trade. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Curry said, “There was a lot of chatter of whether it was the right trade…From the first game in Chicago to last night, it was a seamless fit. (We) complement each other so well. He gave us so much belief…It was a success. Now you have to build off that.”

So, how did Jimmy Butler, Mr. Heat Culture himself, actually end up gelling so well with Steph Curry, the guy who changed the game with his shooting?

Batman and Robin take the bay – the Stephen Curry-Jimmy Butler on-court chemistry

On paper, they’re almost polar opposites, and that’s exactly what makes it work. Curry himself nailed it when he said, “He’s like the exact opposite player of me, which is kind of funny. I shot 16 three’s, he shot 1, he got to the FT line a lot, he’s dominating the paint, I’m dominating the outside… it has the potential to be really fun.” And “fun” translated into a whole lot of wins – 26-8 when they shared the court, remember?

Charles Barkley pointed out on Inside the NBA that Butler “gave them new life” and that “they’re not living by jump shots anymore.” That balance is huge. Teams can’t just load up on Steph on the perimeter because Jimmy’s going to gash them inside or draw a foul. And when defenses do overcommit to Jimmy’s drives, who’s often lurking for an open three? Yep, number 30.

It’s not just about scoring, either. Both guys are incredibly high-IQ players. “We’ve always been at our best with high-IQ guys around Steph and Draymond, and that’s what I’m seeing with Jimmy,” Kerr observed. Butler’s emphasis on making the “right play,” whether it’s a pass, a screen, or a tough defensive stop, fits right into the Warriors’ unselfish system.

And Jimmy seems to genuinely relish playing alongside Steph. He’s even called Curry “Batman” and himself “Robin,” which is pretty telling for a guy with Jimmy’s competitive fire. “Batman comes out of nowhere,” Butler said, talking about Steph’s clutch gene. “You never see him coming… and he does some incredible things, man. We all know that, but we’ve got to protect him at all costs.” That desire to “protect” Steph, to take some of the load off him, is a big reason why this partnership has clicked. Since

Butler himself sounds ready for more, saying, “I still think we have a lot of great basketball ahead of us.” If these two stay healthy, that wine barrel gift might just be the first of many celebrations for the Warriors.