Warriors' Jimmy Butler out for playoffs with torn ACL

Star forward suffered season-ending injury in January, leaving Steph Curry to carry Golden State alone.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:08am by

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic motion of a basketball player in mid-dribble or jump shot, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in deep navy, forest green, and burnt orange hues.With star forward Jimmy Butler sidelined by injury, the Warriors must rely even more heavily on Steph Curry's heroics to power their playoff push.San Francisco Today

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will miss the remainder of the 2026 NBA playoffs after tearing the ACL in his right knee on January 19th. The two-way star was expected to be Stephen Curry's top sidekick this postseason, but his season-ending injury leaves Curry to shoulder the load alone as the Warriors try to navigate the play-in tournament and beyond.

Why it matters

Butler's absence is a major blow for the Warriors, who were counting on the All-Star forward to provide two-way production and take some of the pressure off Curry. Without Butler, Curry will have to carry an even heavier offensive burden, and the Warriors' depth and defensive capabilities will be tested.

The details

Butler suffered the ACL tear in his right knee during a game on January 19th. Even with the best-case recovery timeline of 9 months, he will not be able to return this season. The Warriors have had several months to adjust their rotations and game plan without Butler, but it's still a significant loss as they try to make a deep playoff run.

  • Butler suffered the ACL tear on January 19, 2026.
  • The typical recovery time for an ACL tear is 9 months.

The players

Jimmy Butler

An All-Star forward for the Golden State Warriors who was expected to be Stephen Curry's top sidekick this postseason before suffering a season-ending ACL tear in his right knee.

Stephen Curry

The superstar point guard for the Golden State Warriors who will now have to shoulder an even heavier offensive load without his co-star Jimmy Butler available.

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What’s next

The Warriors will have to find a way to win without Butler in the playoffs, relying heavily on Curry's heroics. Butler's recovery timeline means he should be ready to return at the start of the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Jimmy Butler's season-ending ACL injury is a major setback for the Warriors, who were counting on the two-way star to provide support for Steph Curry in the playoffs. Now Curry will have to carry an even heavier load, testing the team's depth and defense as they try to make a deep postseason run without their injured co-star.