Arenas angrily criticizes Butler s role, saying Warriors need a real second option

According to American sports media F/W columnist Nico Martinez, Arenas believes that the Warriors have no real second choice after Curry. The former All-Star said on his Gil's Arena podcast that Butler's team-first approach wasn't a good fit for the role. He thinks Golden State needs another player, like Kuminga or Hield, to step up and take control of the offense. "The way Steph plays will keep them relevant, but he needs another guy to help him move, and Butler plays team basketball; he's a team-oriented player. The team doesn't have a clear second option. Kuminga and Hield haven't stepped up yet "I'm going to take these 18 shots and I'm going to be the second guy."

Curry is clearly the Warriors' alpha star, but they haven't had that reliable No. 2 since Thompson left. Clearly, Arenas doesn't believe Butler can successfully fill that role for the Warriors. "They don't have Klay. They don't have a guy who says he's the No. 2 guy. Unless Kuminga can become that," Arenas added. "Your second option Butler is averaging 18 points a game. That's not a second option. He's going to play good basketball; you need him as your third guy."

As the Warriors enter the twilight years of their dynasty, keeping up with the growing competition in the West is only going to get harder. To compete with teams like the Thunder, Nuggets and Timberwolves, they'll need more than Steph's usual heroics. On paper, Butler is more than capable of taking this team to the next level. As a six-time All-Star and five-time All-Pro, he has an impressive resume. The same goes for his career numbers, averaging 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field.

Despite this, Butler is not as dynamic a scorer as Klay, and his skills cannot be compared with Durant. Curry's only championship came from one of those players, and now he doesn't have one heading into the 2025-26 season. Plus, Butler is 36 years old and it remains to be seen whether he can stay healthy throughout the season. The only place the Warriors could turn was Kuminga. Despite brutal contract negotiations this summer, he returned to the Warriors and will come off the bench behind Butler. At just 23 years old, we may not have seen his peak yet, and the Warriors are optimistic that a breakout season is on the way.

As for Butler, it seems he still has something to prove. He may be respected throughout the league, but his exact classification is still up for debate. After several playoff failures, he has a chance to rewrite the narrative if he can be what the Warriors need him to be. Whether Butler or Kuminga steps up, the Warriors' championship hopes rest on finding a true second option behind Curry. Until then, the Warriors will remain behind the West's elite: a dynasty still looking for its next partner. What do you think?