Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors landed some draining news earlier this week.
Last year’s major trade acquisition, Jimmy Butler, tore his ACL. By now, it’s a well-known fact that the Warriors are going to be without the multi-time All-Star for the remainder of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
It’s a major blow for the Warriors, who have been “mediocre” as Butler labeled it, to start the year.
Stephen Curry Addresses the Butler Blow
“It’s obviously a tough situation,” Curry told reporters this week, via The Athletic.
“First and foremost, you think about (Butler) and his recovery, and his spirits. Just trying to be there for him as a friend and teammate. But basketball-wise, we have to make the necessary adjustments to try to keep a semblance of our identity that we were forming with him as a part of that push. These last two games have been difficult in making that adjustment, but I think emotionally we have to try and move on as fast as possible to not let things spiral the wrong direction.”
Two games since Butler has gone down, the Warriors lost both times. They are 25-21 on the year, sitting eighth in the Western Conference. The Minnesota Timberwolves found separation in the seventh seed.
The Warriors were just getting their first full season with Butler in the mix. When they traded for him from the Miami Heat last year, he appeared in just 30 games. He went down during his 38th matchup this year.
Before the injury, Butler was shooting 51 percent from the field and hitting on 37 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. He posted averages of 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. It was a strong campaign for Butler, who hasn’t averaged 20 points since the 2023-2024 season.
Unfortunately, the 36-year-old has a long road of recovery ahead. Curry and the Warriors wish him well throughout that journey. Now, they have to figure out how to navigate the rest of the season without him.
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