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Warriors Get Brutal News On Jimmy Butler ACL Injury Return Timeline

Jimmy Butler injury update, Jimmy Butler ACL Injury, Jimmy Butler injury return timeline, Butler injury recovery, Jimmy Butler ACL injury recovery, Warriors injury news, Jonathan Kuminga trade rumors, Warriors trade rumors, Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr

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Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors is looked at by teammates and trainers after he collided with Davion Mitchell #45 of the Miami Heat and injured his knee during the third quarter at Chase Center on January 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California.

On Monday night, Jimmy Butler suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, now set to miss the rest of the season for the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors took the risk on adding another player in the second half of his career during the 2025 trade deadline, and while he showed signs of being amajor difference maker in his roughly 11.5 months in the Bay Area,he’ll no longer have the chance to help this team and Stephen Curry, with another title, at least this year.

Speaking on NBA Today, insider Shams Charania revealed that Golden State is preparing for Butler to miss the start of next season after suffering the devastating knee injury.

“The Warriors are already embracing for the possibility and the potential likelihood thathe’s gonna miss the start of next season,”Charania said.

Shams Charania

Breaking: Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler has suffered a season-ending torn right ACL, sources tell ESPN.

While previous ACL injury timelines wereseen at about a year, that has shorteneda bit,but with Butler’s age and the potential severity of the tear, hoping for a quicker recovery might be wishful thinking.

Jimmy Butler ACL Injury And Recovery Timeline

Afull year of recovery, with the return of this same time next year, is likely the longest it would take Butler to get back on the floor.However, set to turn 37 years old over the summer, as Charania mentioned, it will be an uphill battle for the wing player, one thatisn’t going to come any easier considering his game.

“He turns 37 this offseason, and he faces a year-long work of recovery potentially,”Charania said. “Since he got there in February,they’ve had almost a .700 win percentage, (with him) in a Warrior uniform…nowhe’s out for the rest of the season.He’s their second-best player. Just a devastating blow to the Golden State Warriors.”

The season-ending injury came in the third quarter of GoldenState’s game against the Miami Heat, as he collided with Davion Mitchell and twisted his right knee while attempting to grab an entry pass.

Speaking after the game, Curry said that Butler appeared to remain in good spirits, despite the severity of the injury.

“He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground,” hesaid. “In true Jimmy fashion,he’s always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is.”

Anthony Slater reported that Butler had an MRI on his knee to confirm the ACL tear, and Charania added that once the swellinggoes down, heis set tohave surgery.

The Warriors won 12 of their last 16 games before Butler went out, their strongest run of the season, but will now be missing their second-highest scorerand third-highest rebounder and assist man.

Warriors Trade Rumors, JonathanKuminga’s Future

What remains amajor plot point for Golden State amidButler’s injury is the future of Jonathan Kuminga.

Per Charania, itis still unknown whether the franchise will continue to scour the trade market to find the best dealthey can get for Kuminga or keep him as a replacement for Butler. The 23-year-oldhasn’t played in over a month, and according to the insider, the relationship between him and head coach Steve Kerr is ‘beyond repair.’

Shams Charania

SportsCenter AM on the Golden State Warriors’ crushing blow, a season-ending torn ACL for Jimmy Butler:

“In some shape or form, the Warriors are back on the rollercoaster that is their saga with Jonathan Kuminga,”he said. “Whether they go all-in again with Kuminga to see, can he play in the absence of Jimmy Butler, the focus is goingto squarely be on him…My sources tell me the relationship between him and Steve Kerris fractured beyond repair.”

AfterButler’s injury and the game, in which the Warriors won in dominant fashion, Kerr himself addressed Kuminga and his future.

“Sure. Absolutely,”Kerr said,on whetherButler’s injury would result in Kuminga getting back in the rotation.

But for now, it ishard togauge what the Warriors will do in the next two weeksbefore the deadline.Charania and Slater reported the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks remain interested, butit’s unknown if the injured Butler will either increase or decreaseKuminga’s value for both Golden State and his value in the trade market.

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