Warriors lose Butler for rest of season with torn ACL
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, the team announced Tuesday.
Butler sustained the injury midway through the third quarter, leaping to grab an entry feed in the post before landing awkwardly. The six-time All-Star immediately grabbed his right knee and screamed out in pain.
Prayers up for Jimmy Butler 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/0RrwwWkf8w
— SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) January 20, 2026
Butler couldn't put any weight on his right knee and needed teammates to help him to the locker room. 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.
Jimmy Butler can’t put weight on his right knee. Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga helping him to the locker room after a concerning scene in Chase Center. pic.twitter.com/4uSCuzXgEk
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 20, 2026
Butler's long-term absence is a massive blow to Golden State's hopes of competing for another title with Stephen Curry, whose contract, like Butler's, runs out after next season.
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.
When asked postgame Monday if he could turn to Kuminga in the wake of Butler's injury, Kerr responded, "Sure, absolutely," adding that he believed the 23-year-old was ready.
Golden State won't be granted a disabled player exception for Butler's season-ending injury, as the deadline to apply was Jan. 15, per Spotrac's Keith Smith.
Butler had 17 points, four assists, three boards, and two steals in 21 minutes prior to his departure.
His agent Bernie Lee said he believes the 36-year-old will return to win his first championship before he retires.
"My belief in that is unwavering," Lee told ESPN's Anthony Slater. "I've watched Jimmy support and uplift and change the lives of countless people, including my own, and now is a time for people to rally around him and offer him that same support, which we will."
Butler was averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 boards, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals entering Monday's contest against his former team.