Jimmy Butler's resurgence season with the Golden State Warriors comes to a sudden and devastating halt after Monday night.
The Golden State Warriors were able to cruise past the Miami Heat, 135-112, securing its 12th win in 16 games. But the result fades quickly as a non-contact injury unfolds midway through the third quarter. Butler collapses to the floor in visible pain after his right knee buckles. He requires assistance to leave the court and cannot put weight on his leg.
Hours later, the worst-case scenario becomes reality. Butler suffers a torn right ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season.
A Season-Ending Blow at the Peak of a Resurgence
The timing feels especially cruel. Butler is in the midst of his first full season with Golden State following last February's blockbuster trade, and he remains the driving force behind the Warriors' late-season push. At 36, he plays some of the most efficient basketball of his career.
Through Monday night, Butler averages 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He shoots 51.9 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from three while leading the team comfortably in plus-minus. His impact extends far beyond the box score, stabilizing rotations, closing games, and redefining Golden State's identity on both ends of the floor.
The Warriors' recent surge does not happen by accident. Butler consistently turns close losses into wins and injects an edge that reshapes the team's season. With his injury, whatever slim postseason hopes remain now feel extinguished.
Recovery Timeline and Organizational Questions Ahead
ACL recoveries typically range from 11 to 13 months. Golden State understands that timeline well, as De'Anthony Melton returns earlier this season just shy of 13 months after ACL surgery. Butler's situation, however, carries added complexity. This marks his third serious injury to the same knee, and age becomes an unavoidable factor.
A return sometime after the 2027 All-Star break appears realistic if the organization prioritizes caution.
Beyond rehabilitation, another question looms: Butler's contract. His deal now represents a major financial inflection point. Butler’s contract is worth $54.1 million for this reason and escalates to a hefty price $56.8 million for his age 37 season. If the Warriors wait until the offseason, the contract becomes expiring and carries potential trade value. Those conversations come later.
For now the Warriors must figure out how they look to navigate through the rest of the season without their second most talented perimeter player at the helm. With the looming questions around the future of Jonathan Kuminga and trade rumors around players like Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis and Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., it may be eminent that Golden State makes a move ahead of the deadline.
Whether that move is enough to make up for the loss of Butler is something only time will tell. Or maybe the Warriors will simply see this as a lost season and not make a move at all. Nonetheless this is a huge blow to a Golden State team that is running out of time to make one last run at a title with Stephen Curry at the helm.
Newsweek