Jimmy Butler, who suffered the ACL tear that ended his season in January, is currently rehabbing after undergoing surgery five weeks ago. He has started moving about, and seeing him on the sidelines during the Golden State Warriors’ road game against the Wizards in Washington, D.C., on Monday would have made the Dubs fans happy. The team won, too, a much-needed victory.
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Butler travelled with the team for the first time since the injury. And naturally, the occasion led to questions about his recovery. We all know that things are on track for him to make a return sometime next season, and that since it is ACL, they have to be careful not to rush.
Butler, while going through the recovery process, will spend the next few months cheering his fellow Warriors on. As for when he can return, the forward doesn’t have a definitive answer. “I do want to come back, we all know that. I can’t say when,” he said, before adding about how he is completely focused on making a quick recovery.
Obviously, as early as I can to help my guys win some games,” added Butler after the Warriors’ 125-117 win over the Wizards. “Whenever my body’s ready, I promise I’m trying to get back out there.”
Typically, an ACL tear takes anywhere from six to 12 months for a full recovery and return to the court. Given that Butler suffered his injury on January 16, that puts him on track to return in mid-June at the earliest, which would fall during the NBA Finals.
Jimmy Butler on if he has any idea when he’d come back:
“I do want to come back. We all know that. I can’t say when. Obviously, as early as I can to help my guys win some games… Whenever my body’s ready, I promise I’m trying to get back out there.” pic.twitter.com/FgPPpSTCmQ
— aly ✶ (@jinthirty) March 16, 2026
At two games below .500 and sitting in the ninth seed, it’s highly unlikely the Warriors make it that far in the playoffs. They’ve been slipping down the Western Conference since Butler was sidelined. And an additional injury to Steph Curry hasn’t helped either.
Butler is now 36. It’s great to hear that his rehab has been going well, but there’s no guarantee he’ll return as the same player. Because of that, he should focus on getting healthy and ready for next season rather than pushing ahead of schedule for a potential playoff run. And that seems to be exactly what he’s doing.
Butler later admitted that he most likely won’t be traveling for the Warriors’ remaining road games this season. He received clearance to travel to D.C. for this one, but will now return to the Bay Area to continue treatment and rehab on his knee.
His injury was a massive blow to the Warriors’ season. Butler is still under contract with the team next year. So he will be back for 2026-27, but it is tough not to think about the kind of playoff run he and Curry could have gone on this year.
