What Jimmy Butler’s injury changed for the Warriors
That was the worst case scenario and it was quickly confirmed. Kick to the knee during in the game against Miami, Jimmy Butler he will be sidelined for many months. Star Warrior is a victim rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right kneesynonymous with the end of the season, and much more. For Golden State, this announcement drastically disrupts plans in the near and far future.
What are the hopes for this season without Jimmy Butler?
Fate is sometimes teasing, even cruel. That’s why against his former Heat team, which he left with much fanfare, Jimmy Butler saw his knee give out on a jump shot.
His howl of pain left little room for doubt as to the serious nature of the injury. The announcement of the diagnosis, barely two hours after the final buzzer, now gives way to horror after the cold. Golden State has arguably played its best basketball of the season, winning 12 of its last 16 games. The Bay franchise will now have to once again become the leader, which has clearly gained momentum.
His ability to connect his team, his presence on the offensive rebound or his toughness night after night… Jimmy Butler is a player of distinction, almost irreplaceable in his style of play and impact. Since the start of the season, the Warriors have won just two of the six games played without their veteran (Stephen Curry he was also absent at five of these six meetings). And his absence will leave a sizable void, and the power — in hopes of remaining competitive — will rely even more on Stephen Curry to magnetize the game. At the risk of pulling the strings for the leader who has already missed nine games in the 2025/26 season.
Currently in eighth place in the Western Conference, Golden State has built a small cushion in the float zone in recent weeks with five wins over the Grizzlies (11th), six and a half over the Mavericks (12th). Even if at the halfway point of the season there is still too little to consider yourself safe.
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Jonathan Kuminga case completely rebooted?
To replace Jimmy Butler digitally, the solution seems obvious. benched for Golden State’s last 16 games, Jonathan Cumminga has a return-to-rotation profile. The Congolese is nowhere near as tough and tough a defender as Jimmy Butler, and his transfer request may cast doubt on his involvement with the Warriors at this time. But California will need offensive support to surround Stephen Curry.
Brandin Pod Ziemia he took care of that brilliantly on Monday with his best performance of the season (24 points, including 17 after Butler’s exit). I Steve Kerr above all, he relied on a collegiate approach to compensate for the absence of his winger, by strengthening Gary Peyton III etc Buddy Hield. « We will have to do it as a group if one of our own is affected » insisted Stephen Curry at the press conference.
But Steve Kerr didn’t hide it, despite his tense expression at the press conferenceJonathan Cumminga’s return is ” absolutely » option. Alternating between good on occasion and mediocre on a regular basis this season, the 23-year-old still remains a real threat due to his athleticism. Jonathan Cuminga averaged 16.1 and 15.3 points over the past two seasons, despite seeing limited playing time. And he managed to play well in last season’s playoffs against the Wolves, despite one of the strongest defenses in the league, averaging 24.3 points per game over the final four games of the series. It’s up to the Warriors to decide their approach to this thorny issue in the coming hours, either turning the page on Kuminga for good or offering a new (and last?) chance to the player, while this time the team absolutely needs his input.
Will the Warriors go from sellers to buyers before the trade deadline?
A question posted a few lines above will answer part of the question. Jonathan Kuminga, despite the circumstances, could still be on the market by February 5th. The long bitter and now completely cold relationship between the player and the franchise are good reasons to end the game once and for all. sagaeven if it will bring only a modest return.
Golden State could then be prompted to act over the next two weeks to try to strengthen themselves, failing to replace Jimmy Butler. The latter’s contract could potentially be used, as he will be free in the summer of 2027 with a fully guaranteed $56.8 million remaining season. Could the franchise agree to absorb the winger’s lease while regaining one or more draft picks as “compensation,” and bet on a declining Warriors team? His XXL salary, the 5th highest in the entire league, however, limits the franchise’s room to maneuver. Rumors of potential interest from Golden State pour Anthony Davis (Mavericks)who has exactly the same salary as Jimmy Butler this season, could take over…
Are Golden State leaders willing to take one last gamble to try to leave the already mostly closed Stephen Curry-Draymond Green shooting window open? Even if that were the case, what poker moves are actually possible, while Gianni’s option doesn’t seem really relevant?
Is this the true end of the Curry era?
Rehabilitating the All-Star winger last season, the Warriors took on an aging squad, but hoped the former Heat player’s arrival would reinvigorate the game and desire.
With Stephen Curry (age 37), Jimmy Butler (age 36) and Draymond Green (age 35), the window of opportunity to try to extend Golden State’s dynasty has necessarily narrowed. All three players are under contract through 2027, with a player option for Draymond Green next season. Jimmy Butler’s serious injury changes the cards and darkens an already largely blocked horizon.
His absence until the end of the season is noted, and the risk that he will miss the restart is significant. And it’s impossible to predict what form the six-time All-Star might return to. The Californian franchise was already not among the favorites for the title this season. This injury to Jimmy Butler affects him even more. And with him, what seemed like a last ditch effort in the ring could come to an end. And perhaps the final chapter of one of the most unusual eras in NBA history.
| Jimmy Butler | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | CHI | 42 | 9 | 40.5 | 18.2 | 76.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2012-13 | CHI | 82 | 26 | 46.7 | 38.1 | 80.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 8.6 |
| 2013-14 | CHI | 67 | 39 | 39.7 | 28.3 | 76.9 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | CHI | 65 | 39 | 46.2 | 37.8 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2015-16 | CHI | 67 | 37 | 45.5 | 31.1 | 83.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 20.9 |
| 2016-17 | CHI | 76 | 37 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 86.5 | 1.7 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 23.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIN | 59 | 37 | 47.4 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 22.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All teams | 65 | 34 | 46.2 | 34.7 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2018-19 * | PHL | 55 | 33 | 46.1 | 33.8 | 86.8 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 18.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIN | 10 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.8 | 78.7 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 21.3 |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 58 | 34 | 45.5 | 24.4 | 83.4 | 1.8 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 6.0 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 19.9 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 52 | 34 | 49.7 | 24.5 | 86.3 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 57 | 34 | 48.0 | 23.3 | 87.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 21.4 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 64 | 33 | 53.9 | 35.0 | 85.0 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 5.9 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 22.9 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 60 | 34 | 49.9 | 41.4 | 85.8 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 2024-25 * | All teams | 26 | 31 | 54.2 | 35.1 | 80.5 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.3 |
| 2024-25 * | MIA | 25 | 31 | 54.0 | 36.1 | 80.1 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 17.0 |
| 2024-25 * | Mr | 1 | 29 | 58.3 | 0.0 | 84.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 25.0 |
| In total | 840 | 33 | 47.2 | 33.0 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 18.3 | |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-20 14:12:00
