Disaster struck for the Warriors on Monday night when star forward Jimmy Butler went down with a knee injury during Golden State’s win over the Heat. A few hours later ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the worst possible news— that Butler had torn his ACL and was done for the year.
It’s potentially a fatal blow to the Warriors’ championship hopes this season and an injury that will significantly alter the landscape of the West playoff picture. It’s also a potential opportunity for the oft-discussed but rarely-seen Jonathan Kuminga. The disgruntled 23-year-old demanded a trade from Golden State last week and, given he’s been glued to the bench for all of 2026 so far, signs pointed to a divorce before the February 5 trade deadline. Now things might change.
