Didn't Rise to the Moment: Just How Good Was Jimmy Butler in the Playoffs?

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished off the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, winning 121-110 at home and taking the series 4-1. Don’t let the final score fool you—the game was never close after the opening minutes. After a brief 3-2 lead, the Warriors trailed the rest of the way, at times by as much as 25. This wasn’t just a loss—it was a comprehensive dismantling that underscored the widening gulf between these two teams.

For Minnesota, it’s now back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances. And once again, Anthony Edwards is at the center of it all.

Despite being hounded by constant double-teams, Edwards delivered 22 points, 12 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal—another stat sheet-stuffing performance. Crucially, 16 of his 22 points came in the second half. It’s become a trend:

• Game 3: 36 points total, 28 in the second half

• Game 4: 30 points total, 16 in the third quarter

• Game 5: 22 points total, 16 in the second half

Some players shine when the spotlight hits them. Others shrink. Edwards? He grows. The 22-year-old has delivered time and again, and his consistent fourth-quarter dominance, his defense, his poise—it all screams “face of the franchise.” Frankly, when it comes to postseason impact, Ant might’ve already surpassed Kevin Garnett in Timberwolves lore. A bold claim? Maybe. But Minnesota’s history is thin, and Ant’s rise is undeniable.

That said, this wasn’t a one-man show.

Rudy Gobert, often the punching bag of NBA Twitter, went 8-of-9 from the field for 17 points and 8 rebounds. In Game 5 against the Lakers, he had dropped a monstrous 27 points and 24 boards. Back-to-back playoff-clinching performances? Put some respect on the man’s name.

Julius Randle, the much-maligned playoff enigma, poured in 29 points on 13-of-18 shooting, grabbed 8 boards, and handed out 5 assists. He’s flipped his postseason narrative this spring.

Veteran point guard Mike Conley had his best playoff game yet this season—16 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4-of-6 from three.

McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo contributed 14 and 13 points respectively, but it was their combined 8 steals that tilted the defensive battle in Minnesota’s favor.

Let’s be clear: this is no fluke run. Minnesota’s last two postseasons have seen them eliminate Kevin Durant and Devin Booker’s Suns, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s Nuggets, LeBron James’ Lakers, and now Jimmy Butler and a Stephen Curry-less Warriors squad. It’s the definition of “passing the torch.”

In a wide-open West—where OKC lacks size, Denver lacks depth, and Boston just lost Jayson Tatum—this might actually be the year for Anthony Edwards.

But what about the Warriors?

Without Stephen Curry, they were simply a shell of themselves. The offensive flow, the gravity, the movement—none of it works without No. 30 on the floor. Steve Kerr mixed and matched rotations, but nothing stuck. Minnesota’s length and defensive pressure overwhelmed everything Golden State tried to do.

That said, there were silver linings.

Brandin Podziemski, who had struggled mightily through the first four games (40 FGAs, 30 points total), finally exploded: 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep. He added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. A breakout performance for the rookie.

Jonathan Kuminga kept his hot streak alive with 26 points on 11-of-23 shooting. Over the past three games, he’s averaged 26.3 points on nearly 52% shooting. After an uneven start to the series, he’s found his rhythm—and maybe even solidified a bigger role next year.

Even Moses Moody made noise in limited minutes: 12 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals in just 12 minutes, going 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. His +10 in a double-digit loss tells its own story.

But not every story had a happy ending—particularly that of Jimmy Butler.

When Butler joined the Warriors midseason, expectations were sky-high. He brought toughness, experience, and a reputation as “Playoff Jimmy.” But in these playoffs, he never looked like that guy. Especially in this second-round series against the Timberwolves.

• Game 4: 14 points on 9 shots, 0-of-1 from three, -30 plus-minus

• Game 5: 17 points on 11 shots, 0-of-3 from three, -17 plus-minus

Even in his best outing—Game 3, when he dropped 28—he faded badly in the fourth quarter, shooting 1-of-7.

There are reasons. The Wolves’ defense is elite, and Jaden McDaniels might be Butler’s personal nightmare. McDaniels has the length, foot speed, and discipline to hang with Jimmy, and the numbers back it up: In their first four games, McDaniels defended Butler for 103 possessions. The result? 11 FGAs, 3 makes, 10 total points.

But it's not just McDaniels. Butler’s body is clearly failing him. He’s dealing with nagging injuries, and at age 35, his downhill, physical style is harder to maintain. You can see it in the numbers:

2024 Playoffs (11 games):

• 19.2 PPG

• 6.6 RPG

• 5.2 APG

• 44.7 FG% / 30.6 3P% / 80.0 FT%

2023 Playoffs (22 games):

• 26.9 PPG

• 6.5 RPG

• 5.9 APG

• 50.6 FG% / 33.8 3P% / 84.1 FT%

That’s not aging gracefully. That’s a cliff dive.

Yes, he’s hurt. Yes, he’s adapting to a new system. But when he told the media after Game 2, “If I need to go get 40, I can,” fans expected fireworks. What followed was a dud.

It’s not all bad. Even at this stage, Butler brings tremendous value. His understanding of the Warriors’ system, his leadership, and his defense still matter. And let’s not forget—without Butler, the Warriors may not have even made the playoffs. He was a stabilizer all season, helping turn a chaotic roster into a tough first-round opponent and a team that eliminated the red-hot Rockets.

But now comes the harsh part: the contract.

Next season, Curry and Butler alone will combine for over $113 million in salary. Add Draymond’s $25.9 million, Moody’s $11.6 million, Hield’s $9.2 million, and the looming decisions on Kuminga, Payton II, and Kevon Looney, and you’ve got a massive cap problem. TJD and Podziemski are on rookie deals, which helps—but this version of the Warriors? It’s not winning a title.

The front office has some painful decisions to make.

Do you move off Butler while he still has value? Do you re-sign Kuminga to a hefty deal? Do you shop Moody or Hield for a better-fitting wing?

This summer won’t just shape the Warriors’ roster—it might decide the final chapter of Stephen Curry’s prime. It might also close the book on “Playoff Jimmy.”

A final word on Butler:

In 2020, he dragged an undermanned Miami team to the Finals. In 2023, he took down the Bucks and Celtics in one of the most miraculous runs in recent memory. In 2024? He showed up, but not the way we remember. Not the way legends are supposed to.

There comes a point in every career when the myth starts to fade, when the signature moments become fewer and further between. For Jimmy Butler, that moment may have arrived.

And if it has—it came with more of a whisper than a bang.