The Golden State Warriors’ recent surge came to an abrupt stop Monday night, as forward Jimmy Butler suffered a torn right ACL that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, a crushing blow to a team that had regained momentum in the Western Conference playoff race. Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, confirmed the injury in a statement released to ESPN.
Lee said: “Obviously a gut punch on every level for Jimmy and the entire group, but I firmly believe that this is a part of the journey and we can’t only expect to take the good things out of it. We’ve watched life happen to countless others and now it’s his turn to face this. It’s how life works. I’ve known for over 10 years now that Jimmy is going to win a championship before he is done. My belief in that is unwavering. If you know anything about Jimmy you know exactly how he will attack this challenge. Put simply, he has this.”
Butler also appeared to acknowledge the injury on social media, posting on Instagram that he would “be back before you know it.”
Butler was injured midway through the third quarter of Golden State’s 135-112 win over the Miami Heat at Chase Center. The veteran forward went up to secure a contested entry pass in the paint and collided with Miami guard Davion Mitchell. As Butler landed, his right knee twisted awkwardly, and he immediately fell to the floor in visible distress. The 36-year-old remained down for several minutes, clutching his knee and yelling in pain, prompting Warriors coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout. Butler eventually left the court with assistance from two teammates, unable to put weight on his right leg. The Warriors initially ruled him out with a knee injury and announced he would undergo an MRI. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday as a torn ACL. Butler’s injury history adds another layer of concern, as he previously suffered a meniscus tear in the same knee in 2018 and an MCL sprain in 2024.
Now in his second season with the Warriors following a midseason trade from Miami in 2024-25, Butler was acquired to help extend Golden State’s championship window. Butler had been central to the turnaround for the Warriors, who have won 12 of their previous 16 games and improved to 25-19, their best mark of the season and good for eighth place in the Western Conference. In 37 games prior to Monday, Butler averaged 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range. He scored 17 points in just 21 minutes against Miami before exiting. In January alone, Butler had been averaging more than 21 points per game on efficient shooting.
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