Jimmy Butler’s first season with Golden State ended in an instant. The forward crumpled to the Chase Center floor Monday night, clutching his right knee after a routine catch. An MRI soon confirmed the worst: a torn ACL that will sideline him for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.
At a Glance
- Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL in the third quarter against Miami
- The 36-year-old will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season
- Golden State had just completed its first four-game win streak and is 12-4 in the last 16 games
- Why it matters: Without their marquee mid-season acquisition, the Warriors must decide before the Feb. 5 trade deadline whether to chase a playoff push built around Steph Curry and Draymond Green or pivot for the future
The Moment Everything Changed
Butler went down at the 7:22 mark of the third quarter. He planted his right leg to secure an entry pass, immediately buckled, and stayed on the hardwood for several minutes. Teammates Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II eventually carried him to the locker room. He did not return.
Coach Steve Kerr told reporters only that Butler was undergoing an MRI and that the team would issue an update Tuesday. Within hours, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the season-ending diagnosis. A source later confirmed the torn ACL to Sophia A. Reynolds at News Of Los Angeles.
A Season on the Rise-Now in Flux
Golden State had finally found momentum. Monday’s 135-112 victory over Miami pushed the club to:
- Four straight wins for the first time this year
- A 12-4 record since Christmas
- A legitimate shot at climbing into the top six of the Western Conference
Butler had been the catalyst. Acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Andrew Wiggins and a haul of draft capital to Miami, the 36-year-old brought two-way toughness and late-game shot-making that complemented Curry and Green. In 19 games as a Warrior he averaged:
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Points | 21.7 |
| Rebounds | 6.1 |
| Assists | 5.3 |
| Steals | 1.8 |
Golden State was 14-5 with Butler in the lineup, including signature wins over Boston, Denver and Phoenix.
Front-Office Crossroads
General manager Mike Dunleavy now faces a franchise-altering choice. The NBA trade deadline looms on Feb. 5. Does he:
- Keep the roster intact and bank on Curry, Green and rising wing Jonathan Kuminga to maintain a top-eight seed?
- Package future first-round picks for an immediate Butler replacement, risking long-term flexibility?
- Sell off veterans such as Klay Thompson (expiring) and Chris Paul (team option) to duck the luxury tax and reload for next season?
Ownership has repeatedly stated a desire to remain competitive while Curry, 37, can still perform at an All-NBA level. Yet the franchise also owes its 2027 first-rounder to Portland (top-4 protected), complicating any full-scale teardown.
Locker-Room Reaction
Players learned the diagnosis in a quiet post-game locker room. Curry called it “gut-wrenching,” noting Butler had quickly become the vocal leader the team lacked. Green said the injury “puts everything in perspective-how fast it can be taken away.”
Rookie center Trayce Jackson-Davis added: “We’ve got to rally around him. He’s part of our family now.”
Kerr must also re-configure a rotation that had gelled around a nine-man unit. Expect:
- Moses Moody to re-enter the starting lineup
- Increased ball-handling duties for Curry and Paul
- More small-ball lineups with Green at center
Medical Outlook
Athletes over 35 typically face a 9- to 12-month recovery after ACL reconstruction, meaning Butler could miss the start of the 2026-27 season as well. His expiring $54 million salary for next summer becomes an even larger storyline; Golden State must decide whether to negotiate an extension, let the deal expire for cap relief, or explore sign-and-trade scenarios.
Key Takeaways
- Jimmy Butler’s torn ACL ends his 2025-26 season and clouds the Warriors’ playoff picture
- Golden State must weigh short-term ambition against long-term flexibility before the Feb. 5 trade deadline
- Curry and Green remain, but the franchise’s championship math changed in one painful moment on the Chase Center floor
