Jimmy Butler, the star player for the Golden State Warriors, has a serious knee injury. He tore his right ACL during a game against the Miami Heat. This means he will miss the rest of the season. The news came from his agent and shocked fans and teammates. The Warriors won the game 135-112, but the victory felt empty because of Butler's injury.
The injury happened on Monday night at Chase Center. It was in the third quarter with 7:41 left on the clock. Butler jumped high to catch a pass in the paint. He collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell. When he landed, his right knee twisted badly. Butler fell to the floor in pain. He stayed down for a few minutes as his teammates gathered around him.
Butler could not stand on his right leg. Teammates helped him up slowly. He even joked with the referees, saying he deserved two free throws. Warriors guard Stephen Curry later said, "He was still cracking jokes while on the ground. That's true Jimmy fashion, he always keeps a good attitude."
Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga supported Butler's arms and walked him to the bench. They then helped him to a wheelchair near the locker room. The whole team looked stunned and quiet. Coach Steve Kerr called it a "gut punch" for everyone. Butler left the arena right away for an MRI scan. The test confirmed the torn ACL. His agent, Bernie Lee, told ESPN the details.
Lee said in a statement: "This is tough for Jimmy and the team. But it's part of the journey. I have known Jimmy for over 10 years. I believe he will win a championship someday. My faith in him is strong." Lee added that they will make some decisions soon about treatment. Then, the focus will be on rehab for next season. He said Jimmy will handle this challenge like a pro.
Before this game, the Warriors were on a hot streak. They had a record of 25-19 and won 12 of their last 16 games. Butler played a big role in that success. At 36 years old, he averaged 21.3 points per game in January, shooting 53% from the field. Against his old team, the Heat, he scored 17 points in just 21 minutes.
Butler joined the Warriors in February 2025. He came in a trade from Miami. To make the deal happen, he signed a two-year extension worth $111 million. In his early time with Golden State, he changed everything. The team went from missing the playoffs to reaching the second round in May.
This season, despite some ups and downs, Butler was steady. He averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 38 of 44 games. He stepped up big during the recent 12-4 run, playing well next to Stephen Curry.
Now, without Butler, things look different for the Warriors. They were already thinking about trades before the February 5 deadline. Butler earns $54.1 million this year and $56.8 million next season. His absence hurts the team's chances to compete now. The core group, including Curry, is getting older. Fans and experts wonder if this is the end of their strong run.
The Warriors must rethink their plans. They need to find new players to fill the gap. Coach Kerr and the team feel "concerned" and "subdued." But they still have Curry and other stars like Hield and Kuminga. The focus now shifts to making the playoffs without Butler.
This Warriors' Jimmy Butler ACL tear, sidelining the 36-year-old co-star after his Heat trade glow-up, 20+ PPG Curry synergy, and that third-quarter paint collision nightmare, crushes Golden State's Curry-era contention dreams, trade deadline scrambles, and playoff push amid their 12-4 surge, echoing aging core risks and fantasy fallout.
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