Jimmy Butler’s right knee injury turned out to be the worst-case scenario.
Butler tore his right ACL in the Warriors’ win over the Miami Heat on Monday night and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA season, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news of Butler’s season-ending ACL injury.
The Warriors told reporters shortly after the win that Butler was undergoing an MRI and the team would provide an update on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old Butler suffered the injury in the third quarter as he landed while catching an entry pass. He immediately crumpled to the ground and grabbed his right knee.
Butler remained on the court for several minutes before Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II carried him to the Warriors’ locker room.
The Warriors’ season was trending up over the last few weeks, but Butler’s devastating injury could change everything.
General manager Mike Dunleavy has some big decisions to make between now and the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
Golden State still can win at a high clip with Steph Curry and Draymond Green leading the way, but Butler was the third piece the team needed if it wanted to make a deep playoff run.
Where Dunleavy and the Warriors go from here remains to be seen.
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