It has been more than five months since the Warriors’ 2025-26 NBA season came to despair as superstar Jimmy Butler suffered a torn right ACL.
Despite coming into the February trade deadline with an injury, the Golden State front office has committed to Butler’s rehabilitation and prioritized stability and long-term planning over a desperate asset dump.
Meanwhile, the six-time All-Star gave insights regarding his mental and physical health so far on Thursday.
“I got some time, but I promise I’m trying to get back to basketball,” Butler said. “… As soon as I can get back on the floor, being the Robin to Steph’s Batman, I will be back.”
The Warriors tried to survive without the veteran, and had won 12 of their last 16, but lost their next two games, 11 days after Butler’s injury.
It was followed by Stephen Curry, who was out for the next two months due to complications from runner’s knee.
Golden State went 23-15 with Butler in the roster last season, and 20-13 when both Curry and Butler played in the same game.
After Butler’s injury and Curry’s absence in the last months of the season, the Warriors had a 12-26 record the rest of the regular season.
“We got Steph on our team?” Butler asked back sarcastically to a question on his honest expectations. “Sh**, we’re going to win. I’m a firm believer that Steph is one of the greatest players to ever play this game. His talent is game-changing alone. You legitimately always have a chance when Steph is on the floor, no matter the time – fourth quarter, second quarter, overtime – so he, we, are expected to win at a high level, and I think we are going to do that.”
