Jimmy Butler: Golden State Warriors star will miss rest of NBA season due to torn ACL

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Butler, 36, suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 135-112 win over the Miami Heat on Monday.

His agent, Bernie Lee, confirmed the news in a statement to ESPN,, external Calling it a “gut punch” for Butler and the Warriors.

After a mixed start to the season, the Warriors have won 12 of their 16 games and sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, with a record of 25 wins and 19 losses.

The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the playoffs, with teams in seventh to tenth competing in a play-in tournament.

Butler’s injury leaves the Warriors facing a decision on how to handle the rest of the season and the market before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.

Under coach Steve Kerr and superstar Stephen Curry, the Warriors have won four NBA titles since 2015, but have been a fading force since their last championship win in 2022.

The Warriors acquired Butler from the Heat in February 2025 to give Curry, 37, a star teammate to fuel another championship bid, but must now consider whether to ask for more reinforcements or rebuild for the future.

However, Lee is confident that Butler, a six-time All-Star who is under contract with the Warriors through the end of the 2026-27 season, will bounce back from this injury to win his first NBA title.

“I’ve known for over 10 years that Jimmy was going to win the championship before it was over,” Lee said. “My belief in that is unwavering.”