Stephen Curry Dunks For The Last Time

With just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers, Stephen Curry shocked everyone. Instead of a routine layup, he soared for a rare one-handed dunk. The Wells Fargo Center crowd erupted. This marked Stephen Curry’s 27th career regular-season dunk, his first since 2019. But Curry quickly made a surprising announcement after the Warriors’ 126-119 loss. “That will probably be my last dunk,” Curry said. “I’m calling it right now. That was the last one you’re going to see”

At 36 years old, Curry has never been known for his dunks. His last one came on February 21, 2019, off a Kevin Durant pass. This time, he credited Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse for inspiring the moment. “Stackhouse said this morning he wanted to see me dunk. That hasn’t happened in years, and tonight it did. Hilarious,” Curry said.

A Sign of His Renewed Health

Stephen Curry’s dunk wasn’t just a fun highlight. It reflected how good his body feels after battling knee pain all season. He admitted he couldn’t resist the fast-break opportunity. “It took everything out of me to get up there,” Curry joked. “For sure, I will only lay the ball up now.”

His decision to retire from dunking symbolizes the end of a rare novelty for fans. Curry’s game has never relied on athleticism but rather dominate with his shooting and playmaking.

Jimmy Butler’s Arrival Changed Everything

Stephen Curry’s rare dunk capped off a remarkable turnaround for Golden State since acquiring Jimmy Butler. Before the trade, the Warriors sat at 25-25. Their mix of veterans and young talent wasn’t enough to compete for a title.

Something had to change.

The Warriors seized the opportunity when Butler demanded a trade from Miami. They landed a top-tier player without sacrificing their young core of Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, or Jonathan Kuminga. Instead, they moved Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Dennis Schröder.

Immediate Impact on the Warriors

Butler debuted on February 8 against the Bulls, scoring 25 points in a dominant 132-111 victory. Since then, the Warriors have gone 7-2 with him on the team. Their record now stands at 32-28, and they are just half a game away from escaping the play-in tournament.

The turnaround has been dramatic. Four of their seven wins came on a tough five-game road trip, including victories over Milwaukee and Houston. They also hold a 13.3 net rating over their last nine games, the third-highest mark in the league during that span.

Before the trade, the Warriors ranked 18th in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating. Since Butler arrived, they rank fourth in offense and third in defense.

How Butler Has Transformed the Team

Butler’s leadership has elevated Golden State’s defense. His presence forces accountability and effort on that end of the floor. But the biggest surprise is his impact on the offense.

As a point-forward, Butler has relieved Curry of primary playmaking duties. Teams now focus more on Butler, often assigning a bigger defender to him. This shift has allowed Curry to thrive.

Since Butler’s arrival, Curry is averaging 30.4 points per game, higher than his 24.1 average for the season. His efficiency has skyrocketed, shooting 51.4% from the field compared to his previous 44.7%. With Butler facilitating and drawing defensive attention, Curry gets better shots. This dynamic has turned the Warriors into a more dangerous offensive team.

Are the Warriors Contenders Again?

If Golden State sustains this level of play, they will be a nightmare matchup for any opponent. The Western Conference remains competitive, but the Warriors have momentum on their side.

Stephen Curry may never dunk again, but he doesn’t need to. The real story is how Butler’s arrival has given him and Draymond Green another shot at a championship. For a team that looked stuck in mediocrity just a month ago, the Warriors suddenly have real aspirations of raising another banner.

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