Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors had surgery on Monday.
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Jimmy Butler III #10 of the Golden State Warriors had surgery on Monday.
On Monday, the Golden State Warriors announced that star forward Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL back on January 19, had undergone surgery and was set to begin his rehab. It’s a first step in the team hopefully getting Butler back early in the 2026-27 season.
According to the team’s announcement: “Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III, who suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on January 19 against the Miami Heat, underwent successful surgery earlier on Monday in Los Angeles. The surgery, a reconstruction of the torn ACL, was performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum. Butler III, who has missed the last nine (9) games, will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season and will begin rehabilitation immediately.”
But of course, while Butler’s performance on the floor is what the Warriors will miss the most, his veteran presence off the floor and in the locker room also has value. In that regard, the Dubs expect Butler to be back around the team in the coming weeks.
Warriors Hoping to Get Jimmy Butler Back With Team
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, though, revealed that won’t happen immediately.
“I spoke today with Bernie Lee, his agent, texted with him,” Kerr said on Monday. “Spoke with Rick Celebrini who was there for the surgery. Went well, and now the recovery begins. I am not sure when (Butler will rejoin the team), he has got to be immobilized to start with. I know he wants to be back with the group, we talked about that after the injury. Hopefully, we’ll see him soon.”
Kerr did say that the team does not want Butler around the group, for the sake of the team as well as for Butler himself. Butler’s leadership within the group has been important, and he could benefit from the experience of De’Anthony Melton, who had ACL surgery last year.
“It’ll be great to Jimmy here, he just gives everybody confidence,” Kerr said. “Really hard thing to be out for a year. Melt had his ACL last year, and it will be good for them to be together. Melt can help him a little bit. It’s always good to have players around when they’re injured, it makes everything feel tighter.”
ACL Surgery Will Keep Him Out Until Around Christmas
If you’re wondering why the Warriors waited three weeks to have Butler get the surgery to repair his ACL, that wait time is typical. Doctors want patients undergoing ACL surgeries to strengthen the thigh muscles at the top of the knee to help the patient in their post-surgery recovery. The muscles will atrophy during recovery.
As it stands, Butler could potentially be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season, which would mean an eight-month recovery window. But that is a longshot. Butler will turn 37 in September, and the Warriors will want to be patient. A return sometime around Christmas is more realistic.
As for advice, Kerr said he could give Butler some of his experience–he had surgery on his ACL in 1986, while he was at Arizona.
“It’s a hard thing to try to comfort somebody who knows they’re going to be out for a year,” Kerr said. “I went through it myself, I tore my ACL in college. I can relate some of my own experiences when I had my surgery 25 years before Jimmy was born. That will mean a lot to him, I’m sure.”