Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Monday’s 135-112 victory against the Miami Heat. This injury brings his current season to an end.
Butler’s representative, Bernie Lee, verified the injury on Tuesday. Lee described the news as a “heartbreaking blow” and expressed confidence that Butler would “tackle this setback” with the goal of returning even stronger. The Warriors organization also confirmed the injury later on Tuesday, announcing that Butler is scheduled for surgery on an “unspecified future date.”
Separately, Butler posted an update on Instagram, promising to “make a swift return.”
The injury occurred in the third quarter at the Chase Center when Butler caught a contested pass near the basket. He landed awkwardly on his right leg and collapsed to the floor after contact from Davion Mitchell resulted in a foul call.
Following the injury, Butler writhed on the court, clutching his right knee. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr immediately called a timeout to attend to Butler, who was heard crying out in discomfort on the baseline.
Butler eventually departed the court, supported by two teammates. He was unable to bear weight on his right foot as he headed towards the locker room tunnel.
The Warriors initially announced after his departure that Butler was sidelined for the remainder of the game due to a right knee injury. They later stated that Butler would undergo an MRI but did not disclose any specifics regarding the severity of his condition at that time.
“Hoping for the best outcomes from the scans,” stated Warriors guard Stephen Curry, as reported by ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
On Tuesday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Butler was indeed dealing with a torn ACL.
Butler has a history of two prior significant injuries to the same knee earlier in his career: a meniscus tear in 2018 and an MCL sprain in 2024.
Major Setback for Butler and the Warriors
Butler, a five-time All-NBA selection, is in his second year with the Warriors, having joined them in a midseason trade from the Heat during the 2024-25 season. The Warriors acquired Butler with aspirations of contending for another championship in the latter part of Stephen Curry’s prime.
At 36 years old, Butler has maintained an impressive standard of play. In 37 games leading up to Monday’s match, Butler was averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 51.9% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Curry is averaging 27.6 points per game and is leading the league for the eleventh time with 4.5 made 3-pointers per game, shooting 38.6%. He was named an All-Star starter earlier on Monday.
With Butler and Curry leading their lineup, the Warriors currently hold a 25-19 record, placing them eighth in the Western Conference. Butler’s ACL tear is expected to extinguish any lingering long-shot prospects of Golden State making a deep playoff run in the West and could significantly influence their strategy in the trade market before the February 5th deadline.
