Warriors Forward Jimmy Butler III Out for Season with Torn Right ACL

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors' championship aspirations for the 2025-26 season suffered a monumental blow on Tuesday as the team confirmed that star forward Jimmy Butler III has sustained a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee.

The injury occurred during the third quarter of Monday’s 135-112 victory over the Miami Heat—Butler’s former team. At the 7:41 mark, Butler collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell while leaping for a pass in the paint. He landed awkwardly, causing his right knee to buckle. After remaining on the floor in visible distress for several minutes, Butler was assisted to a wheelchair by teammates Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga.

An MRI performed late Monday night confirmed the complete tear. Butler, 36, is expected to undergo surgery in the coming weeks.

A Devastating Loss for the "Win-Now" Warriors

The timing of the injury is particularly cruel for Golden State. After acquiring the six-time All-Star from Miami during the 2024-25 trade deadline and signing him to a two-year, $121 million extension, the Warriors were finally seeing the dividends of pairing Butler with Stephen Curry.

Before the injury, Butler was enjoying a resurgent campaign:

• Averages: 20.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, and 1.4 SPG.

• Efficiency: 51.9% FG and 86.4% FT.

• Impact: The Warriors have outscored opponents by a team-high 185 points with Butler on the floor this season.

"It’s a tough one to swallow," head coach Steve Kerr said during a subdued post-game press conference. "Jimmy has been our engine on both ends. Even while he was down on the court, he was cracking jokes with the refs, trying to see if he’d get two free throws. That’s just who he is. We’re going to miss that spirit."

The Roster Fallout: Trade Deadline Implications

With the February 5 trade deadline approaching, the Warriors front office faces a difficult crossroads. Butler and Curry are slated to earn a combined $113.7 million this season—roughly 74% of the NBA salary cap—leaving the team with very little flexibility to replace his production.

Key Rotational Shifts:

1. Jonathan Kuminga: Previously the subject of trade rumors after requesting more playing time, Kuminga is the most logical candidate to step into the starting small forward role. The Warriors may now pivot from trading the 23-year-old to relying on him as a primary scoring option.

2. Moses Moody: Moody has been having a career year, shooting 39.5% from deep. He is expected to see a significant increase in minutes to help mitigate the loss of Butler's perimeter defense.

3. The "Last Dance" Window: With Stephen Curry (37) and Draymond Green (35) in the twilight of their careers, the loss of Butler effectively closes the championship window for this specific iteration of the roster for 2026.

Looking Ahead

The Warriors (25-19) currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference. While they welcomed back Draymond Green from an ankle injury on Tuesday, the road to a deep playoff run without their second-best player and primary wing defender appears daunting.

Butler is under contract for $56.8 million for the 2026-27 season. Given the typical 9-to-12-month recovery timeline for an ACL reconstruction, his availability for the start of next season remains in question.