Category: Basketball

Jimmy Butler again reminds Warriors he was best pick to be Steph Curry's co-star originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler ran down the right lane of the court and caught a pass from Gary Payton II to finish a 2-on-1 fastbreak. He jumped off two feet, and was vertical with a 7-foot Lauri Markkanen, absorbing the Utah Jazz star before moving the ball to his right and kissing it off the glass for two points. 

The Warriors beat the Jazz 134-117 Monday night at Chase Center to snap a three-game losing streak. Butler was their prize at last season’s trade deadline. Markkanen is the player they highly coveted during the 2024 summer. 

There isn’t a thing the Warriors would change about acquiring Butler as Steph Curry’s co-star alongside Draymond Green. 

“Lauri Markkanen is having an incredible run. He’s been playing at a high level for a couple years now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Sunday after practice. 

Markkanen going into his game against Golden State was averaging a career-high 29.3 points per game, slightly ahead of Curry, for the seventh-best mark in the NBA. He already had a 51-point game this season, three games of 40 or more points and eight of at least 30 points. The 2023 All-Star and former winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player looked to be taking a leap as one of the league’s premier scorers, especially at his size. 

Everything Markkanen does as an off-ball 3-point threat who can score in multiple ways for Jazz coach Will Hardy can be imagined in Kerr’s offensive system. The two coaches have history together with Team USA basketball, and Kerr highly respects the younger Hardy’s vision. 

“We see the game in a similar fashion, but to really be proficient in that, you need somebody like Markkanen or Steph or Klay [Thompson],” Kerr said during his pregame press conference. “You need somebody who has to draw that type of attention to create reactions from the defense. What I see is a team that spaces the floor well, that is pushing it, that is playing aggressively, playing confidently. 

“Yeah, they’re hard to guard.” 

So, Kerr stuck someone 10 inches shorter on Markkanen in the Warriors’ first game against the Jazz this season. With Draymond Green and Al Horford out to injuries, Gary Payton II had the job of guarding Markkanen to open the game and a handful of Warriors were part of the Jazz star having his second-worst scoring night of the season. Markkanen scored 17 points, nearly 13 off his previous season average, on 31.6-percent shooting (6 of 19) and only was 1 of 5 from 3-point range. 

He was a minus-20 in 33 minutes. 

Meanwhile, Butler was a plus-19 in 28 minutes, dominating doing what he does best. Always under control, Butler scored 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, had six rebounds (tied for a team high) and seven assists (one behind Payton’s eight). The furthest shot he took was a 13-foot jumper after recognizing a mismatch being guarded by rookie Walter Clayton Jr. 

Butler rebounded his own first miss, a contested layup through traffic, and tipped it back in for two points. His second miss was a driving layup where Butler expected more contact, and his third actually came from Clayton swiping down and blocking the start of a shot around his waist. 

The summer of 2024 for the Warriors was about Paul George and Markkanen. They dodged a bullet in George, who only played 41 games last year and has played just three this season. Markkanen had a down year last season while playing a lowly 47 games, and Butler, who didn’t get to play against George as a Warrior last season, highly outplayed him in his first game against Utah with Golden State. 

The Warriors’ focus at the trade deadline turned to a Kevin Durant reunion, which didn’t transpire due to KD not wanting to reopen that chapter of his career. Durant didn’t play last April when Butler and the Warriors blew out the Phoenix Suns. He will his Houston Rockets’ game against the Warriors on Wednesday because of a personal family matter. 

Any kind of Warriors what-ifs of Markkanen, George or Durant have been put to rest because of Butler’s presence. The trio of Butler, Curry and Green have played 14 games together this season and are a plus-61 with a 15.0 net rating. Green missed Monday’s win, but the Curry-Butler duo improved to a plus-50 in 15 games this season and they’ve produced a 120.6 offensive rating. 

After beating the Jazz, the Warriors at 10-9 are one game over .500, powered by three players 35 or older that still are elite. The Warriors again were reminded that although Butler wasn’t the franchise’s first pick before knowing he was available, he was the right choice in a move where they were able to keep all their best assets to keep building around him, Curry and Green in their first full season together.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

How Steph Curry made NBA scoring history in Warriors' win vs. Jazz on Monday originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry needed fewer than 30 minutes to make NBA scoring history Monday night.

The Warriors star poured in 31 points in 29 minutes, knocking down six 3-pointers in Golden State’s 134–117 win over the Utah Jazz at Chase Center. The performance officially tied Curry with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo for the most 30-point games played in under 30 minutes in NBA history, with 30 such games each.

30 games with 30+ PTS in under 30 MIN…

For #30 🤯 https://t.co/yR1Xfnr16x

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) November 25, 2025

Curry now has totaled 1,043 points in 865 minutes across those 30 games, averaging 34.8 points in 28.8 minutes. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has recorded 989 points in 831 minutes across 30 games, averaging 33.0 points per 27.7 minutes.

The timing of the tie is notable. Antetokounmpo currently is sidelined with a low-grade left groin strain, leaving his total frozen as the Bucks slide in the standings. Milwaukee dropped its fifth straight game on Monday — a 115–103 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers — continuing a skid that began when Giannis exited the lineup.

Milwaukee will have to wait for Antetokounmpo to return before he can push that mark any further. Golden State, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. The win lifted the Warriors to 10–9, a modest but meaningful step as they try to climb back into the upper half of the Western Conference.

And if Curry keeps delivering this kind of production in under 30 minutes, Golden State’s ascent might just come faster than expected.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Lonzo Ball’s froze in confusion. The question – “What do you think about the NBA dress code?” – hung in the air for a second before he cracked a sheepish grin.

“There’s a dress code?” he said, smiling.

Twenty years after the introduction of a rule that once roiled the league and ignited a culture war over image and identity, one of the NBA’s current players didn’t even know it existed.

“Now do-rags are flying, along with jerseys and baggy stuff,” said Ball, a point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers. “I didn’t know we had a dress code. I just knew we had to put something on.”

Former NBA commissioner David Stern instituted the dress code, which went into effect at the start of the 2005–06 season. The policy has been relaxed since Adam Silver succeeded Stern in 2014, but the initial rollout – as with most change – came with controversy and pushback.

The code required all players to dress in business or conservative attire when arriving and departing games, on the bench when injured, and when conducting official NBA business.

Players bristled at the announcement because the policy effectively banned oversized T-shirts, do-rags, jerseys, and other “hip-hop-inspired” attire.

The league’s move was widely seen as a critique of Black culture – a policing of expression and a response to the NBA’s discomfort with hip-hop aesthetics that had become inseparable from basketball itself. The backlash was immediate, loud, and deeply personal.

Related: Mark Cuban made the Mavericks relevant. But is his legacy rotten? | Lee Escobedo

For many, it was also a direct attack on Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson, who became the poster child for what not to wear. Iverson, then one of the biggest stars in the league, was known for his tattoos, braids, and baggy gear.

In a recent interview on The Breakfast Club radio show and podcast, Iverson said his influence on other players helped trigger the NBA’s response. “David Stern and the rest of the NBA were like, ‘No,’ because it was all right when I was doing it,” Iverson recalled. “But then everybody else said, ‘OK, if he can do that, we can do this.’ You see Kobe coming in with diamond chains and baggy clothes, and everyone started doing it. Then the league was like, ‘Hold on, we’ve got to do something about that.’”

Twenty years later, that moment – once seen as a culture war between the league office and players – has come to represent something far more complicated. Instead of erasing individuality, the rule inadvertently helped create a fashion renaissance that reshaped both the NBA and global style.

What began as a mandate for “professionalism” evolved into tunnels lined with photographers, endorsement deals with high-fashion brands, and players driving global trends in ways the league never imagined. Former NBA forward Ira Newble, who remains racially conscious, vividly remembers the tension.

“Everyone seemed upset and up in arms about the dress code,” Newble, who was playing for the Cavaliers when the ban came in, says. “No one wanted to have a dress code. It was a big deal.”

Players were used to traveling in sweats, hoodies, or whatever felt comfortable during long road swings. The style of the time – oversized clothing, long white tees, and baggy jeans – was heavily linked to hip-hop culture.

“My style at that time reflected hip-hop culture,” Newble says. “I had the braids and wore baggy clothes. The sentiment among players was that the NBA was trying to take away from the cultural end. Iverson was an influence of that culture. That’s what the controversy was about. It felt as though they were trying to change and get rid of hip-hop culture.”

But Newble also recognizes how the moment evolved. “Everything kind of grew in a different direction where hip-hop culture can still be embraced within the dress code,” he says. “So it’s cool to see how it evolved.”

Inside the league offices, the intent was different, according to Kathy Behrens, the NBA’s president of social responsibility and player programs.

“We felt at the time that it was important for our players to present themselves in a more professional fashion when on league business,” Behrens says. “We were not demanding a suit culture, but we did want to raise the level of how players showed up.”

She says the league anticipated pushback, but emphasized it was never meant to sanitize hip-hop expression.

“We knew what the goal was, and it had nothing to do with changing our players’ fashion or culture,” she says. “We talked with many players about this change before implementing it.”

What the NBA didn’t expect, Behrens admits, was what happened next.

“The reality is our players embraced the change very quickly and truly raised the level much higher than we anticipated,” she says. “Pre-game ‘fits’ became a thing. It soon became a competition over who could dress the best. How you dress became a cultural touchpoint.”

Two decades later, the league still maintains a dress policy, though it has evolved with changing definitions of “professional attire” and is not as strict as it once was, allowing the players to be more creative with their fashion choices. But the legacy remains.

“When the people most impacted by it embrace it the way our players have, you have to feel that it worked as intended,” Behrens says.

When the rule came in, Jameer Nelson was in his second NBA season with the Orlando Magic. Nelson, now the 76ers’ assistant general manager, can appreciate how the policy unified the league.

“So it didn’t affect me either way,” Nelson says. “But it was cool to see the brotherhood, the fraternity of basketball players, move in the same direction, whether we liked it or not.”

Nelson laughs at how players have flipped the narrative completely.

“You can see now how the personalities are being shown through fashion,” he says. “I have my own style, more old school, more casual. Somebody told me yesterday I dress hip-hop slash front office.”

He says players today simply have more tools to showcase their creativity.

“These brands, because of social media, take advantage of it,” Nelson says. “If social media was as big back in 2005, we probably would’ve done the same thing. Getting dressed is art. It’s how you express yourself without even speaking.”

Few players symbolize that shift more than those in the current era, where tunnel entrances resemble fashion runways and some players are followed by photographers and videographers from the parking garage to the locker room.

Take Cavaliers star Darius Garland, considered one of the team’s most fashionable players. He marvels at how far things have come.

“The league implemented a dress code 20 years ago – that’s crazy,” Garland says. “Now we can put on our own stuff. We can express ourselves.”

To Garland, fashion and business are intertwined.

“A lot of guys have different avenues of revenue with clothing pieces,” he says. “Guys have Lululemon deals, Armani deals. It’s crazy now. With the dress code not being a dress code anymore, it’s giving us money we can put in our pockets, and it lets us express ourselves.”

If only the league had embraced a more relaxed dress policy earlier, says Garland.

“Hip-hop culture influences basketball, and basketball influences hip-hop culture,” he says. “Everyone wants to see what athletes are wearing so they can wear it. We are the influencers.”

What began as a controversial, racially charged flashpoint has become a cultural engine, embraced by the league, celebrated by players, and followed by millions worldwide.

The NBA tried to define professionalism. The players redefined it instead. The dress code did not suppress the culture. It amplified it.

Years later, the runway to the locker room, once a battleground, is now one of the most influential stages in global fashion.

“You can trace the swag back to [Iverson],” Ball says. “The tattoos, the braids, the baggy stuff. We came a long way from [the NBA] punishing him for expressing himself. Now [hip-hop fashion] is at an all-time high again. We need to give Allen Iverson a lot of respect.”

It took a decent chunk of time --  perhaps 15 games, in an attempt to quantify the stretch -- for Karl-Anthony Towns to discover his purpose and play with confidence in a reworked Knicks offense under new head coach Mike Brown. 

But the veteran superstar finally found what he was looking for.

While the Knicks didn't need Towns to assert much dominance in order to clinch a 12th straight win over the city-rival Nets on Monday night, he immediately commanded the spotlight and delivered welcomed efficiency. Not only did he score a game-high 37 points with 12 rebounds in their 113-100 win at Barclays Center, he shot 14-of-20 from the floor.

Towns didn't rely on three-point attempts this time. Yes, he still took a few jumpers from beyond the arc, making three on four tries, but the big man's attack plan sparked a breakout effort. He attacked the rim instead, asserting his dominance in the paint as the Knicks' go-to weapon. He was an aggressor, not a settler.

"I've had slumps before, experience teaches me a lot. Keep shooting, keep trusting the work," Towns said after the win. "I know it's disappointing, especially for me who puts so much time in the gym and you're not seeing the results every day you'd like at the standard you anticipate. But never change the grind."

The Knicks fell just short of attempting 40 threes in Brooklyn -- they were five off from the number Brown hopes the team averages this season -- but high-octane offense can be displayed in different ways. And what the team received was Towns contributing in all spaces.

Of course, Towns exploited weaker competition. It shouldn't matter to the Knicks, though. They're allowed to be pleased this version of him showed up. They're allowed to believe this performance returns and lifts the offense to an even higher level.

"He was really good. Again, trying to move him around quite a bit," Brown said of Towns. "Tried to have him at the elbow, in the post, in the pick-and-roll game. You can see his comfort level is starting to get there... Great game by KAT, picking his sports to drive it, shoot it, spray it."

Towns is averaging 21.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.4 rebounds with nearly one-fifth of the regular-season in the books. He's still searching for that valuable groove from three, though -- his shot percentage of 31.4 is currently a career-low.

The Knicks picked up their 12th consecutive win over the Nets, 113-110, on Monday night at Barclays Center. 

Here are some takeaways...

- Mike Brown turned to a smaller lineup with Mitchell Robinson (illness) and OG Anunoby (hamstring) sidelined, as Josh Hart received his first start of the season alongside Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

- That group got off to an extremely sloppy start on both ends of the floor. The Knicks shot 4-of-14 from the field over the opening few minutes and continued giving up open looks from downtown, allowing Brooklyn to hold a slim two-point advantage when the first quarter came to a close (26-24). 

Noah Clowney got off to a strong start for the Nets, leading the team with eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. 

- New York's second unit of Hart, Towns, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, and Ariel Hukporti got them going early in the second. Even with Brunson resting on the bench, they were able to put together a commanding 11-0 run to open their largest lead of the first half, at the time (eight). 

The Knicks looked like they were ready to put this one away as they pushed the advantage out to as many as a dozen, but Brooklyn answered back with a late first-half surge, and they were able to cut it all the way back down to a one-possession game heading into the break (51-48). 

Both teams shot a combined 25 percent from behind the arc over the first two quarters (NY 3/14, BKN 7/26). 

- Things were back-and-forth coming out of the break before the Knicks took over and opened a comfortable double-digit advantage that they never looked back from. New York scored a game-high 38 points in the third quarter while shooting 64 percent from the field, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc. 

- Towns led the way in perhaps his best offensive showing of the season, finishing with 37 points on 14-of-20 shooting (just 3-of-4 from three) while reeling in 12 rebounds and dishing three assists. The big man did have a bit of a scare after falling hard on his hip on a drive to the basket early in the fourth, but he returned to the court after a timeout.

Brunson had 27 points, Bridges chipped in 16 points, and Hart did it all (seven points, 12 rebounds, seven assists). 

- Jordi Fernandez's young and hungry squad showed much more fight this time compared to the last meeting. Clowney finished with a career-high 31 points on the night including seven threes, Drake Powell pitched in 15 on 5-of-10 shooting, and big man Nic Claxton had eight points. 

New York picked up their second road win of the season in seven tries. 

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

The big man dominated the paint all night, finishing with a game-high 37 points. 

Highlights

KAT with the spin move and bucket to get the scoring started tonight 🌪️

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/lqPjJb2Bsa

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 25, 2025

Jalen Brunson nails the corner three 🎯

(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/zsN6bGFUCx

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 25, 2025

Nifty moves from Deuce 😤 pic.twitter.com/xt789SN90W

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 25, 2025

What's next

The Knicks close their road trip with an NBA Cup matchup with the Hornets on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.