SAN FRANCISCO — Is this it?

Is this the end of Golden State’s storied dynasty, the one that even Steve Kerr acknowledged recently was fading? The rest of us could see that much from the other side of the Bay Bridge for years now, but it was something altogether different for one of their leaders to actually say it. Yet as Kerr knows as well as anyone from his “Last Dance” Chicago Bulls days, there’s no graceful way to get out of the ring-collecting business.

Monday night was a brutal reminder.

To see Jimmy Butler limp off the Chase Center court after tearing his right ACL in the third quarter against his old Miami Heat team was to wonder where the Warriors go from here. The 36-year-old forward was Robin to Steph Curry’s Batman, a mercurial talent whose two-way play elevated their program and — if they squinted hard enough — made Warriors officials believe that they could still be title contenders. Yes, this season.

Even after the Warriors’ slow start, and with all the drama surrounding the Jonathan Kuminga situation that now gets even more interesting as the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears, there was still a sense in Warriors circles that this group would ultimately be capable of making real noise when the playoffs rolled around. They had Butler playing at an All-Star level again in recent weeks, with Golden State’s win 135-112 over Miami making it 12 wins in 16 games after they started just 13-15 (they’re in eighth place in the West — 1 1/2 games behind the Lakers for the sixth spot).

Veteran forward De’Anthony Melton had recently returned from … a torn ACL … to star in his role and provide a serious spark. The improved play of old-head Al Horford was another significant factor. They felt they could become true contenders if they managed to stay healthy when it mattered most. And all of these goals — per their organizational norm — were a way of honoring Curry and his greatness, which should never be taken for granted.

But this Butler injury changes everything. Will Kerr rely on Kuminga, the 23-year-old with whom he has struggled for so long? It’s nearly impossible to imagine a basketball world where Kuminga becomes the savior. No, this — the loss of a proud star in his late 30s who is in the first year of a two-year, $112 million extension that he was given upon arrival when the Warriors traded for him last February — just might be their death knell. Especially considering Butler had a meniscus tear in that same knee in 2018 (which required surgery) and an MCL sprain in 2024.

Consider this much, too: Even if Kuminga decides to play ball, so to speak, we’ve already seen the limits of that particular approach. He did his best in the Western Conference semifinals last postseason after a Game 1 hamstring injury ended Curry’s season. Kuminga averaged 24.3 points on 55.4 percent shooting in 31 minutes per game, and … the Warriors still lost in five games. That’s a cautionary tale if ever there was one.

What’s more, it’s worth noting that Kuminga was the only active Warriors player not to play against the Heat Monday, despite them being without Draymond Green, Melton and Butler (after his injury). That speaks volumes.

If nothing else, Kuminga should be motivated by the fact that his value is not what he or his agent, Aaron Turner, believed it to be. All indications are that the Sacramento Kings remain the only legitimate suitor for his services, and they lowered their offer recently (refusing to include a protected first-round pick) because of the Warriors’ sordid state of affairs.

You never know what might shake loose as the deadline nears, and it’s safe to assume that longtime owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy will get even more aggressive in their pursuit of roster upgrades. But team sources say the phones are simply not ringing for Kuminga’s services at this point.

Here’s an idea to pass the time: Kuminga, who has every right to be frustrated by the way in which his Warriors situation has evolved, should compartmentalize all of that angst and prove his worth to the league in these coming weeks. After all, Golden State did give him a two-year, $48.5 million deal last summer, with a team option for next season and the overall impression that services would be rendered.

When Kerr was asked if Kuminga might finally see the floor in the wake of Butler’s injury, he said, “Absolutely.” He was then asked if he was ready.

“Yep, yep,” Kerr said.

Now is the time to deliver — so long as Kerr calls his number. Their almost-dead dynasty depends on it.