As the Golden State Warriors prepare to open the 2025-26 NBA season on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, a recent column from the San Francisco Chronicle has sparked debate after appearing to reference former Warriors star and current Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant in comparison to Jimmy Butler III.

In her latest piece, veteran columnist Ann Killion praised Butler’s self-awareness and team-first mentality as he enters his first full season with Golden State. However, her wording seemed to indirectly contrast Butler’s mindset with that of previous Warriors players — specifically those who, as she described, “ needed to be seen as the man .”

Killion wrote,

“Butler has that kind of talent. But unlike some past Warriors who have needed to be seen as ‘the man,’ he

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