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The 37-year-old star remained deeply engaged throughout the contest, occupying a seat next to
A Tactical Approach to the Sidelines
Butler’s commitment to his temporary role extended beyond his wardrobe. During substitutions, he held up a handwritten sign for his teammates that featured a simple, emphatic message in all caps: “PASS TO STEPH.” The gesture drew a positive reaction from the team, including Curry, who jokingly praised the directive as “good coaching” following the game.
Warriors head coach
For the younger players on the roster, the sight of a veteran superstar adopting the coaching mantle was a memorable experience. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg noted that he initially did not realize Butler had matched the staff’s dress code until the first timeout. “It was kind of money to see the moment,” Lendeborg said, adding that Butler spent much of the game physically guiding teammates like De’Anthony Melton toward the court while reiterating his singular tactical instruction to feed the ball to Curry.
Butler has previously spoken about the difficulty of being unable to assist his team since suffering his knee injury in January. While he continues his recovery, his presence on the bench in a coaching capacity provided a morale boost for the squad. Kerr noted that the team enjoyed the atmosphere, with the veteran forward clearly relishing his temporary shift in responsibility as he continues his long-term rehabilitation process.