The Golden State Warriors had a historic night at the Chase Center when Jimmy Butler made his franchise debut at home and Andre Iguodala’s No. 9 jersey was formally retired. Despite being unforeseen, the timing gave the occasion a unique meaning. Butler made his debut on the home court as the newest player on the roster after the Warriors’ resounding 126-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, while Iguodala watched his jersey soar to the ceiling amid family, coaches, and former teammates.

The first member of the Warriors’ championship dynasty to win the organization’s top honor was Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Finals MVP. Butler was added to the club to bolster its core, giving them a fresh opportunity to succeed as the Warriors try to build on their history.

Intriguingly subtle similarities between the two players include their exceptional basketball IQ, mastery of the fundamentals, and charismatic leadership, as well as striking similarities like their ideal basketball size, sculpted frame, and strong athleticism.

Iguodala was sometimes referred to by Warriors coach Steve Kerr as “the babysitter,” someone who could control the spectacular chaos that Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry brought to the field. Butler is already establishing himself as the same type of counterweight, despite Thompson’s current affiliation with Dallas.

Butler’s presence alone on Sunday instilled in the Chase Center audience a sense of vitality and hope that has been sadly lacking since Golden State’s explosive start to the season (12–3). Butler has just lately assisted them in recovering from the continuous decline that has followed. Since his arrival, the Warriors have a 5-1 record as they work to secure the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, which would guarantee them a spot in the Play-In Tournament.

And the hype (or hyphy, as it’s known in the Bay Area) wasn’t limited to the crowd. At the end of the third quarter, Curry slapped PJ Washington with the “night night” in what was probably revenge for Washington bringing up Curry’s famous celebration following the Mavericks’ victory against the Warriors two weeks earlier.

On the bench, Green was dancing. Butler shot a turnaround baseline jumper over Kyrie Irving and awarded him a “too small” basket. After Podziemski hit a corner three off a Butler assist, Butler and Brandin Podziemski laughed like little children as they made their way to the bench. During the decisive victory, the supporters repeatedly sang the famous “Waaaaaarrrriiioooooors!” shout in support of their heroes.

As Kerr pointed out, Butler’s methodical approach and Curry-Green’s frenetic style would seem to necessitate a considerable amount of transition time. However, that hasn’t happened, and Kerr attributes Butler’s smooth adjustment to his selflessness.

With 18 points and five assists at the end of Sunday’s game, Butler has emerged as a vital member of the Golden State Warriors’ coaching staff under coach Steve Kerr. When Stephen Curry is benched, he has given the club a much-needed scoring boost, which the Warriors had lacked throughout the previous two seasons. Golden State has lacked a go-to scorer and playmaker in Curry’s absence, but Butler has filled that need with ease. The Warriors are now even more formidable on both sides of the floor thanks to his chemistry with Draymond Green and his stunning dominance in almost every lineup without Curry. The squad has only given up 108 points per 100 possessions, which is comparable to the second-best defense in the NBA, despite Butler and Green playing together for 150 minutes so far.

Andre Iguodala’s entrance in 2013, when Golden State’s youthful core needed leadership and a potent defensive presence, is reminiscent of this impact. Iguodala gave the Warriors that stability, which helped them become champions. Butler has now been the spark that Curry and Green needed as they enter the veteran portion of their careers. He adds a new attacking edge while maintaining Iguodala’s defensive focus.

Curry and Green needed a third star to help them pursue their fifth title together. This star didn’t have to be another shooter like Klay Thompson, but rather someone who could cover for him on both ends. They discovered just that in Butler—a player who has given the squad new life and hope for another championship run.