The Golden State Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler before last year's deadline and signed him to an extension, hoping that he would help the team win another title with Steph Curry. The trade did precisely what the front office hoped for in the first few months, but things fell apart in the second round of the playoffs after Curry got hurt. Now, halfway through the 2025-26 season, they're dealing with another devastating blow.
You know by now that Butler tore his ACL in the third quarter of Monday's win over the Heat. He's out for the season.
Golden State entered the game on a three-game winning streak (make that four now) and had won 12 of its past 16 games. With the trade deadline looming, there have been endless conversations about who the Warriors could turn Jonathan Kuminga into (as he sits on the bench) to give the team another boost in the second half of the season and set them up for a possible championship run.
Between Kuminga's trade value (and now he could stay?) and Butler's injury, Golden State has to admit that the hopes of winning another title with Curry are over. You can argue that the dynasty had been over, but for the optimistic fans who hoped otherwise, Monday's game revealed a painful truth.
Warriors can't win another championship with Steph Curry
The 37-year-old guard is still one of the best in the league, earning his 11th All-Star starter nod on Monday. He's averaging 27.4 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in 31.8 minutes across 34 contests, shooting 47% from the field and 38.9% from three.
In other words, Steph Curry is still Steph Curry. His presence alone, though, isn't enough to make the Warriors a true threat in the West. They currently sit No. 8 in the conference with a 25-19 record, a game and a half back from the No. 6 Lakers. They were on the right track, that was until Butler's injury, an outcome they had no control over.
There were risks to trading for Butler last year, and the front office knew that. He was 35 at the time of the trade and turned 36 in September. He's dealt with right knee injuries in the past, but a torn ACL at this age and at this point in Curry's timeline with the Warriors officially feels like the end of Golden State.
Putting the Warriors' future with Curry aside, hopefully, Butler will have as smooth a recovery process as possible.