Jimmy Butler named Reserve Cup captain — then reportedly suffers ACL injury

Maggie Ekberg

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Jimmy Butler named Reserve Cup captain — then reportedly suffers ACL injury image

Jimmy Butler is a six-time NBA All-Star, a playoff menace, and one of the league’s most intense competitors. On Monday, he added another headline to the mix — and then, hours later, a far more serious one.

On January 19, ESPN reported that the 36-year-old Warriors star suffered a “season-ending torn right ACL” during Golden State’s 135–112 win over the Miami Heat. 

Midway through the third quarter, Butler jumped to catch a pass near the basket, collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell, and landed awkwardly. His right knee appeared to twist on impact, and he went down immediately before being helped off the court.

“We’re all really concerned but we’ll know more after the MRI,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “Everybody is subdued because of the injury, waiting to hear the news.”

The timing couldn’t have been more surreal. Earlier that same day, Butler was announced as a team captain for Reserve Cup Miami 2026, where he’s set to face off against fellow sports icon Derek Jeter. According to Sports Illustrated, the two will lead opposing teams — Team Butler vs. Team Jeter — at the world-class padel tournament running January 22–24 in Miami, Florida.

Beyond the celebrity captains, the tournament will showcase the very top of the sport, with elite padel players including Arturo Coello, Agustín Tapia, Alejandro Galán, and Franco Stupaczuk competing for the Reserve Cup trophy and a share of the sport’s largest-ever prize pool at $600,000.

If padel isn’t on your radar yet, it’s essentially a mash-up of tennis and squash. It’s played in doubles on a smaller court enclosed by glass walls, and unlike tennis, those walls are part of the action. The rallies are fast, the learning curve is friendly, and the vibe is social, which helps explain why the sport has exploded globally.

“The momentum behind padel is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years, and the Reserve Cup has become a driving force in that growth,” Reserve Padel founder and CEO Wayne Boich said in a statement. “The 2026 Series represents the next chapter — bigger stages, more cities, and new opportunities to showcase the world’s best athletes.”

The Miami stop has also become a magnet for star power. According to the official press release, Reserve Cup Miami 2025 drew an A-list crowd that included Andrew Schulz, Zac Efron, Nick Bosa, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, and more.

Whether Butler will be able to take part in this year’s festivities in any on-court or ceremonial capacity remains to be seen, pending official confirmation of the injury and a clearer recovery timeline.

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