Road trips can be grueling. Well, there is no ‘can’ in the story; road trips are indeed grueling. It requires every ounce of physical and mental fitness to tread through the bumpy path. However, losing isn’t an option. Losing was, in fact, never an option. Especially for the Golden State Warriors, their position as the 5th seed of the West is fueling their hopes. Playoffs don’t seem too far-fetched. But for the ultimate magic to happen, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler have to be present. And for now, the latter’s situation seems a bit tricky.
The Dubs are finally ending their 14-day cross-country road trip on April 3 as they land in LA for a massive showdown vs. the Lakers. On Run It Back, Warriors insider Anthony Slater, who’s been traveling with the team, confessed that “this is the longest road trip I can remember them having—two weeks.” But most importantly, the game against the LA and then the Nuggets would dictate Jimmy Butler and Co.’s playoff future. So, the 35-year-old must be on the court; however, an ankle injury is ringing the alarms for the squad.
Could Jimmy Butler’s injury update pose a threat to the Warriors’ dreams?
On Wednesday, when Steph Curry thrashed the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum with a whopping 52-point game, Jimmy Butler also thrived. Chipping in 27 points, the superstar forward continued to show the rivals that he is here to stay with the Warriors. However, Anthony Slater reported that Mr. Playoff’s left ankle area could be a concern for the team. Although he isn’t listed as questionable, this new injury could cause problems if ignored.
Slater said: “He’s not listed on the injury report. He will play tonight.” Simply put, Butler will be on the floor vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. The insider then shared what he saw in the game against the Grizzlies. “I saw him in the locker room, and he’s over there grabbing at that left foot, ankle area, grimacing. I asked him about it. He said Zach Edey stepped on him—it’s about the biggest foot in the league to get stepped on.” So apparently, Edey placed his foot on Jimmy’s, leaving the All-Star forward in pain.
Feb 27, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) looks on against the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
“You could tell he was really frustrated about it because, look, he’s going to play tonight,” Slater added. “But he’s going to play with that foot or ankle is going to be feeling a little bit more tender. And he could tell it. He was feeling really good before that. Now he’s got a little bit of a bump or bruise.” As mentioned before, if the pain persists, then this minor injury could turn into something more concerning.
Meanwhile, a new NBA rumor is reportedly emerging from Anthony Slater’s end. Well, who knew Jonathan Kuminga was demanding a $225 million contract extension until April 1? No one but Slater. But hey! There seems to be a major misunderstanding here.
Anthony Slater clarifies the drama around Jonathan Kuminga’s contract extension tweet
Before going into the details, just check the date. It says April 1. What does that mean? Yes, April fool’s day. An unverified tweet set off a frenzy, claiming Jonathan Kuminga wanted a massive max deal and the Warriors were hesitant—maybe even eyeing a trade. It falsely cited The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, making it spread like wildfire. Soon, social media ran with it, convinced Kuminga had turned down $150M for more.
Addressing the matter, Slater clarified the reality of the topic. He said: “Talking about April Fool’s—I didn’t report that. Somebody just put that out. Those were aggregation accounts. I hate stuff like that; I had people at the arena coming up to me, asking me, ‘Where’d you say that? I couldn’t find where you said that.’” He further cleared the doubts, saying those were just troll accounts that were playing a prank on April Fool’s Day.
Dec 23, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) looks on against the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Slater further informed: “I said he’s seeking 225, and the Warriors were thinking about it. It’s not even that time of year where you’re talking extension or trade. So I’m almost glad you asked that because I had a lot of people thinking that was legitimate. I did not report that.”
So, here we are—one injury scare, a crucial playoff push, and an April Fool’s prank gone wild. Jimmy Butler plays through the pain, the Warriors fight for their spot, and Kuminga’s “$225M demand” was just a joke. The road trip ends, but the real battle begins. Buckle up, Dub Nation!
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