Jimmy Butler suffers season-ending ACL Injury in Warriors win over former team 

What was supposed to be another statement win in Golden State’s midseason surge instead turned into a sobering night that could reshape the franchise’s immediate future.

Jimmy Butler’s season came to a sudden halt Monday night after the Warriors’ 135–112 victory over the Miami Heat, when the veteran wing suffered a torn right ACL — an injury that now casts uncertainty over Golden State’s direction moving forward.

The moment unfolded midway through the third quarter at Chase Center. Butler rose to secure an entry pass in the lane, collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell, and landed awkwardly as his right knee twisted beneath him. He crumpled to the floor in visible pain, remaining down for several minutes as teammates and staff gathered around in stunned silence.

Even then, Butler’s trademark humor surfaced.

“He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “In true Jimmy fashion, he’s always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is.”

Unable to put weight on his right leg, Butler was eventually helped off the court by Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga, his arms draped over their shoulders before being placed into a wheelchair near the locker room. An MRI later confirmed the worst: a season-ending ACL tear, according to his agent Bernie Lee.

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Stephen Curry on Jimmy Butler’s Injury Reaction:

“He was still cracking jokes over there while he was on the ground. In true Jimmy fashion, he’s always gonna have a good time no matter what the situation is. I do love that perspective and that part of his personality… even… pic.twitter.com/UeDWELVstM

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) January 20, 2026

“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,” 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.”

The injury is especially cruel given Golden State’s recent momentum. The Warriors had won 12 of their last 16 games and were climbing the standings behind Butler’s steady play. In January, the 36-year-old was averaging 21.3 points on 53 percent shooting, and he logged 17 points in just 21 minutes against his former team before going down.

Since arriving from Miami in February 2025, Butler has been a stabilizing force alongside Curry, transforming Golden State from a fringe lottery team into a legitimate postseason threat. His arrival fueled belief inside the organization that the aging core still had one more meaningful run left.

That belief now faces its sternest test.

Lee said the coming days will involve “functional decisions” before Butler’s focus turns fully to rehabilitation and the 2026 season.

“If you know anything about Jimmy, you know exactly how he will attack this challenge,” Lee said. “Put simply, he has this.”

For the Warriors, the implications extend beyond the loss of a star. Butler is owed $54.1 million this season and $56.8 million next year — the final year of his deal — and Golden State was already exploring roster reinforcements ahead of the February 5 trade deadline. Without him, the franchise must now reassess how aggressively it pushes forward during the twilight of the Curry era.

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