The Golden State Warriors received heartbreaking news this week when their star forward Jimmy Butler tore the ACL in his right knee, ending his 2025-2026 season. This injury happened during the Warriors’ 135-112 victory against the Miami Heat and the team confirmed that Butler will miss the rest of the year, require surgery, and need a long recovery.

Butler has been a key contributor for the Warriors this season as he averaged 20 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.9 assists while shooting 52% from the field. His scoring and leadership was a big part of the Golden State Warriors’ midseason success where they won 12 of their 16 recent games, almost bringing them into playoff contention in the Western Conference. Since Butler is out, the Warriors now face important decisions about how to change their roster and strategy. The General Manager of the Warriors, Mike Dunleavy, said that the team does not plan to trade Jimmy Butler before the February 5th trade deadline and is hoping he can return and contribute during the 2026-2027 season.

The Golden State Warriors must also consider how to fill the gap left by Butler’s absence on the court. Younger players like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and Moses Moody are expected to take on bigger roles and the team may look for other ways to improve their lineup before the deadline. It has been rumored that the Warriors may have been looking at potentially trading for players like Michael Porter Jr. or Trey Murphy III.

This injury also comes at a tough time for the Warriors’ season as the team had been in the mix for a playoff spot but losing their second leading scorer and all around contributor may impact their chances. How the Warriors respond to this injury will determine their chances of making the playoffs and the direction the franchise goes in the future.