Golden State Warriors’ key player Jimmy Butler will undergo surgery and sit out the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in his right knee sustained during the third quarter of a 135-112 win against his former team, the Miami Heat.
The team announced this unfortunate news before their upcoming game against Toronto on Tuesday. Butler got injured shortly after receiving a pass in the paint during Monday night’s game, resulting in a collision with Davion Mitchell from the Heat, who was charged with a foul. Despite the injury, Butler’s request for free throws indicated a positive attitude to coach Steve Kerr.
Following the incident, Butler’s knee buckled upon landing, requiring assistance from teammates Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield to leave the court. Despite his upbeat demeanor and jokes, Butler could not put weight on his injured knee.
Butler had scored 17 points, made four assists, and grabbed three rebounds in less than 21 minutes before the injury. As the team’s second-highest scorer after Stephen Curry, Butler’s absence will be felt by the Warriors, who will need to adjust their strategy in his absence.
Coach Kerr praised Butler’s leadership and on-court impact, acknowledging the challenge of playing without him and highlighting the team’s depth in coping with this setback. The Warriors face tough decisions as they navigate the remainder of the season without Butler, with the trade deadline looming in about two weeks.