{"id":426091,"date":"2026-01-20T19:27:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/426091\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T19:27:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:27:10","slug":"report-warriors-butler-tears-acl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/426091\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Warriors’ Butler tears ACL"},"content":{"rendered":"

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, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Butler sustained the injury midway through the third quarter. The six-time All-Star leaped to grab an entry feed in the post and landed awkwardly. Butler immediately grabbed his right knee and screamed out in pain.<\/p>\n

Prayers up for Jimmy Butler \ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f pic.twitter.com\/0RrwwWkf8w<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Butler was unable to put any weight on his right knee and had to be helped to the locker room by his teammates. 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Butler can\u2019t 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<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A postgame MRI confirmed the significant extent of the injury, according to Charania.<\/p>\n

Butler’s expected long-term absence would be a massive blow to Golden State’s hopes of competing for another title with Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Golden State also will not be granted a disabled player exception for Butler’s season-ending injury as the deadline to apply was Jan. 15, courtesy of Spotrac’s Keith Smith<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Butler had 17 points, four assists, three boards, and two steals in 21 minutes prior to his departure.<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old was averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 boards, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals entering Monday’s contest against his former team.<\/p>\n