Update: Jimmy Butler has indeed suffered a season-ending torn ACL per ESPN's Shams Charania
Golden State Warriors fans all over the world are holding their breath hoping that there isn't a worst-case scenario with Jimmy Butler after the star forward limped off the floor during the third-quarter of Monday's win over the Miami Heat.
Fears of a season-ending ACL injury are already being widely discussed, but one renowned doctor has given Warriors fans a glimmer of hope as the franchise awaits the results of an MRI on Butler's right knee.
Renowned doctor reacts to Jimmy Butler knee injury
Brian Sutterer MD has developed quite a following on his YouTube channel for quickly breaking down injuries to athletes and especially NBA players. While he doesn't shy away from the fact that Butler could have suffered an ACL injury, Sutterer does point to one sign we don't see when the 6x All-Star landed awkwardly early in the second-half on Monday night.
"This is absolutely concerning for an ACL injury. Whenever the ACL tears, we see the tibia shift forward and then pop back in place as one of the observable signs you might see on a replay. Here with Butler, we don't clearly see that. We don't clearly see the tibia forward and then pop backwards," Sutterer says.
Perhaps this is something Golden State fans can cling to as they pray that Butler's season isn't over, with the team's campaign also likely to go with it if that is the case, such is his importance to the franchise.
Butler was continuing his strong season in the first-half against his former team, going for 15 points and adding two more early in the second before suffering the injury. The Warriors stunningly rallied after the 36-year-old was helped off the floor, outscoring the Heat 58-37 to record a 135-112 victory that was their 12th in the past 16 games.
Butler's injury comes at the worst possible time just as Golden State have built momentum, with Monday's win marking the first occasion they've won four consecutive games this season. They're 6-1 on their current eight-game home stand, and will have an opportunity to cap it off on Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors on the second night of a back-to-back.
In his first full season with the Warriors after last February's blockbuster trade, Butler has averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals on an efficient 51.9% shooting from the floor and 38.1% from 3-point range. He also easily leads the team in plus-minus, continuing his impact after turning the franchise's fortunes around following his arrival last season.