Steve Kerr Is Still Unsure About Jimmy Butler’s Injury Return

On January 19, 2026, Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler tore his ACL against the Miami Heat, and he is currently rehabbing from the injury. There is no official timetable on his return, but he will certainly miss the beginning of the 2026-2027 season. 

Warriors' head coach recently spoke to the media about his availability ahead of next season, and he believes it will be about a year-long recovery, but he has no certainty about a return date. 

"No idea. I’m just throwing February out there because that’s about a year post-injury. So it’ll be somewhere around that time," Kerr said. 

Not having Jimmy Butler will hurt the Warriors at the start of the season. For the last two seasons, Butler has been the second-highest scorer on the roster, and guard Stephen Curry will need all the help he can get if the team wants to compete for a playoff spot. 

Golden State will have to rely on their younger pieces to step up and replace the productivity Butler has brought them over the last two years. One player many are looking at to have a breakout season is guard Brandin Podziemski, who is currently seeking an extension. 

Podziemski has reportedly turned heads during the early parts of training camp, which is a good sign for the organization and coaching staff. Butler brings a lot of veteran presence to the Warriors, as he's been in the Finals twice in the last six years. 

Butler isn't the only notable player on Golden State who will miss significant time this season. Guard Moses Moody will also be out as he's rehabbing a torn left patellar tendon. Moody suffered his injury in March of this year, leaving them even more shorthanded. 

If the Warriors can hold their own until February, as Steve Kerr mentioned, this could be a team that makes a second-half surge as long as Steph Curry is still healthy. A lot of Golden State's success has depended on his durability over the years, and it will be more important now than ever. 

This offseason, the Warriors' front office did not sign many notable free agents, so it will be interesting to see how they approach the idea of potentially bringing in talent from another team. 

Steph Curry recently signed a two-year, $116 million extension, which is less than the maximum, giving the franchise more financial flexibility. The start of the season for Golden State will be very telling and could determine a lot of decisions that will be made for the foreseeable future.