The 2025 NBA season has begun, debuting Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock with a doubleheader.
A thrilling double overtime win by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who squeaked out a win over a returning Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, set the tone for the night, followed up the Golden State Warriors taking down a LeBron James-less Los Angeles Lakers team led by Luka Doncic.
Golden State edged out Los Angeles 119-109 at Crypto.com Arena.
The “other” California-based team had a feel about them that was reminiscent of how they looked a decade ago. Steph Curry sealed the game with a 3-pointer that looked like vintage Curry, but it was one of his teammates who made headlines during the post-game press conference, revealing the competitive camaraderie among the Warriors stars.
Jimmy Butler, who is playing in his first full season as a Warrior after a trade from the Miami Heat last season, led the team with 31 points and made all 16 free throws. The Warriors forward got a little full of himself based on how good he shot from the free-throw line Tuesday night.
Butler shared a season-long bet that he and Draymond Green have going. The wager is that he can finish the 2025-2026 campaign with a higher free-throw percentage than Curry.
The Warriors’ point guard shot 93.3% from the free-throw line last season. That stat is going to be awfully difficult to beat.
“I don’t think it’s a bad bet, but it’s kind of a bet with Dray that I’ve got to shoot a better percentage than No. 30 on our team,” Butler told reporters.
He was then asked about if he thinks he can accomplish it.
“Of course, I think I can. I’m going to have to,” Butler told reporters.
Curry apparently never heard of the bet and feels that Butler has “no chance” of winning.
The Warriors will play the Nuggets on Thursday night. If Butler heads to the free-throw line, there will definitely be a lot of eyes on him as he shoots his shot.
