Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III sustained a season-ending torn right ACL in Monday’s 135-112 win over the Miami Heat.
The Warriors announced Tuesday that Butler will undergo surgery at a date to be determined.
Butler had 17 points before he wrenched his right knee going after the ball under the Warriors’ basket with 7:41 left in the third quarter. The six-time All-Star went down on the court in pain, was helped to the locker room and underwent an MRI after the contest.
“Obviously a gut punch on every level for Jimmy and the entire group, but I firmly believe that this is a part of the journey,” Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told ESPN in a statement. “We can’t only expect to take the good things out of it. I’ve known for over 10 years now that Jimmy is going to win a championship before he is done. My belief in that is unwavering.”
Despite being in pain, Butler managed to make his teammates laugh while dealing with the injury on Monday.
“He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground,” star Stephen Curry told ESPN. “In true Jimmy fashion, he’s always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is.”
In keeping with that, Butler took to Instagram on Tuesday and used the words “general soreness” over a photo that depicted him wearing a military uniform. He added the following caption: “Be back before you know it.”
Butler has a history of injuries to the same knee, with a torn meniscus in February 2018 and sprained medial collateral ligament in April 2024.
Butler, 36, is averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists through 38 games this season. A five-time All-Defensive Team selection, he is playing for his fifth NBA team in his 15-year career, and he owns career averages of 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
The Warriors earned their season-best fourth consecutive win on Monday, improving to 25-19. They sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, which would be a play-in position, 1 1/2 games back of sixth place and the final guaranteed playoff spot.
Golden State concludes an eight-game homestand when the Toronto Raptors visit on Tuesday. The Warriors then embark on a four-game trip to Dallas, Minnesota (two games) and Utah.
–Field Level Media
