The Golden State Warriors are heading into the regular season down two crucial players, but after a recent update from ESPN's Anthony Slater, there's at least been some extra clarity added to when those two Warriors might return.

The more notable of the two Warriors that Golden State will be playing without for some time is forward Jimmy Butler and while the Warriors want to have the third head of their Big Three back as soon as possible, they've still had plenty of time to prepare for his absence.

Butler has been out since January 2026 after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a game against the Miami Heat and has been ever since after undergoing surgery for the tear and continuing to recover from one of the most notorious injuries in all of sports.

An ACL tear typically comes with a recovery timeline of at least a year, if not more, and based on Slater's report, Butler is right on track for that timeline. 

Butler has been steadily recovering and is expected to make his return sometime in February of 2027, a little over one year after he was injured in the first place and just in time for the second half of the season. 

The upcoming regular season will be a difficult one without both Butler and forward Moses Moody, the second Warrior whose timeline for a return has been reported, and they could be in a very difficult spot by the time that Butler makes his return, barring any setbacks.

But adding the veteran wing back in the lineup would go a long way in re-legitimizing the Warriors as an outside playoff contender and even if he would still need more time to get back up to speed on the court, a February return timetable would at least give him the time that he needed to work his way back up to be a serious impacter once again. 

Moody himself could expect an earlier return than Butler, which would also go a long way in improving Golden State's standing in the league. Moody suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon in March 2026, an injury that essentially nailed shut the coffin on the Warriors' chances at being a true contender.

But per Slater's report, Moody could expect to make a return sometime in either late December to early January, which would be huge in improving the Warriors' midseason depth.

Both wings' returns won't immediately solve all of Golden State's problems, but they will be massive steps in the right direction and could be the boost that the Warriors need to stay on track.