Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in Monday night’s 135-112 victory over the Miami Heat, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Butler sustained the injury midway through the third quarter. The six-time All-Star leaped to grab an entry feed in the post and landed awkwardly. Butler immediately grabbed his right knee and screamed out in pain.
Butler was unable to put any weight on his right knee and had to be helped to the locker room by his teammates. The former first-round pick suffered a meniscus tear in 2018 and an MCL sprain in 2024 on the same knee, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
A postgame MRI confirmed the significant extent of the injury, according to Charania.
Butler’s expected long-term absence would be a massive blow to Golden State’s hopes of competing for another title with Stephen Curry.
The Warriors, who rank eighth in the West at 25-19 after Monday’s win, are 20-13 in 2025-26 when Butler and Curry both play. However, they’ve won just two of six matchups without Butler this season. Golden State went 22-5 with both Butler and Curry in the lineup last season after acquiring the former from the Miami Heat in February.
The development may also significantly alter the team’s plans with the trade deadline just over two weeks away. Fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, who hasn’t factored in head coach Steve Kerr’s rotation since mid-December, is now potentially the No. 1 option to replace Butler in the Warriors’ starting lineup despite demanding a trade Thursday, the first day he was eligible to be moved this season.
Golden State also will not be granted a disabled player exception for Butler’s season-ending injury as the deadline to apply was Jan. 15, courtesy of Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
Butler had 17 points, four assists, three boards, and two steals in 21 minutes prior to his departure.
The 36-year-old was averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 boards, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals entering Monday’s contest against his former team.
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