Butler’s season-ending injury revealed: Quickly taken to hospital in wheelchair, serious injury may alter Warriors’ trade plans

On January 20th Beijing time, Golden State Warriors star Butler tore his right anterior cruciate ligament, leading to a season-ending injury. This unexpected situation has deeply clouded the team’s future development path. Warriors reporter Slater brought further coverage on the matter —

Butler’s injury happened with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter. He jumped in the paint to catch a teammate’s pass and collided physically with Heat guard Davion Mitchell. Upon landing, his right knee twisted noticeably, and he immediately fell to the floor in pain.

The Chase Center erupted in shock as teammates quickly gathered around him. Butler lay on the ground for several minutes before being helped up and slowly escorted back to the locker room, unable to put weight on his injured leg. Despite this, he even joked with a nearby referee, saying he should have been awarded two free throws.

“He was joking with us even while lying on the floor,” Warriors guard Curry said. “That’s the real Jimmy — no matter how bad the situation, he always finds a way to keep his spirits up.”

After reaching near the bench, teammates Hield and Kuminga supported him by holding his arms as they helped him through the player tunnel. At the locker room entrance, Butler got into a wheelchair. Before leaving the court, he managed a small smile.

Butler was promptly taken to the hospital for an MRI on his right knee, which confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Warriors coach Kerr described the atmosphere while awaiting the results as “anxious” and “heavy,” and this diagnosis is undoubtedly a severe blow to the title-contending Warriors.

The Warriors had been riding a strong momentum this season, winning 12 of their last 16 games and steadily climbing the rankings, largely thanks to Butler’s recent impressive performances.

The 35-year-old Butler has been playing exceptionally well in January, averaging 21.3 points per game with a shooting accuracy of 53%. In this game against his former team, the Heat, he scored 17 points in just 21 minutes, andthis serious injury could very likely alter the trajectory of the latter part of his career.

Butler was traded from the Heat to the Warriors last February. To facilitate the deal, he agreed to a two-year contract extension worth a total of $111 million.

In the first few weeks with the Warriors, Butler demonstrated strong leadership, transforming a team that hovered near the lottery into a legitimate playoff contender, helping them reach the Western Conference semifinals last May.This sparked a belief within the team that even as the Curry era nears its end, they still have the capability to compete for a championship.

Although the team’s overall performance has been inconsistent this season, as Curry’s “golden partner,” Butler has consistently delivered stable and efficient performances. He played in 38 of the team’s 44 games, averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Especially during the recent strong stretch of 12 wins and 4 losses, his play has continued to elevate.

With Butler now sidelined, the team’s strength has taken a significant hit.Originally, the Warriors were actively seeking reinforcements ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, but now they must reassess the competitiveness of their core lineup and may need to change their trade strategy.The Warriors have only two weeks to quickly determine how this injury will impact their trade deadline plans and roster adjustments.

Butler’s salary this season is $54.1 million, and next season his contract enters its final year with a salary reaching $56.8 million.