Add The California Post on Google The NBA season is rapidly approaching as teams are expected to report to training camp at the end of the month.
As the Golden State Warriors are about to begin camp, one of the biggest questions surrounding the team this season is how healthy they will be next year. Primarily, Jimmy Butler III.
According to ESPN NBA insider Anthony Slater, he wrote that Butler, who is recovering from a torn ACL injury, is expected to return by January or February next season.
Golden State Warriors receive shocking Jimmy Butler update. Getty Images Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
“Butler has been slowly increasing his on-court work while traveling the globe this summer, and the most recent strength tests on his right ACL recovery have shown notable progress, according to league sources,” Slater wrote.
Slater also wrote that Butler still has a way to go on the road to recovery as he’s “expected to be limited to individual court and strength work.”
If Butler comes back in January, it will be right around the same time he tore his ACL last year in a 135-112 victory against the Miami Heat.
Butler was on fire that night when he was facing off against his former team, scoring 17 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals through 21 minutes of playing time.
Around the 7:41 mark of the third quarter, Butler received a pass and immediately crashed into Miami’s Davion Mitchell, resulting in him awkwardly falling down.
Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry celebrating during an NBA game. Getty Images After the game, it was later revealed what had happened, and his season was over.
Butler has been working his way back from the injury over the offseason, but Slater reported that there will be plenty of checkpoints he needs to meet before he appears on an NBA court again.
Slater also added that the Warriors’ Rick Celebrini, who is the lead medical decision-maker, is well known for his cautious approach.
Butler was traded by the Heat to the Warriors during the 2025 NBA trade deadline, as Golden State was making an aggressive push to help win one more title with Steph Curry.
Through their time as teammates, the duo of Curry and Butler have only appeared in 60 games together, primarily because of injuries.
During his first season with Golden State, the Warriors were eliminated in five games in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
