Why Jimmy Butler isn't playing tonight for Warriors or in playoffs with injury news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit esporist.org for more information.
Jimmy Butler is supposed to be Stephen Curry's sidekick.
Instead, the two-way star can only watch as the Golden State Warriors try to navigate the 2026 postseason.
Butler was a prominent sideline clapper during the first game of the play-in tournament as Steph stole the show down the stretch to keep the Warriors' season alive.
It's going to have to keep being the Curry show, because there is no Butler show the rest of the way this season.
MORE: Steph Curry reminds entire NBA his story isn't over yet
Why isn't Jimmy Butler playing?
Butler is out with an injury for a while.
He tore the ACL in his right knee on Jan. 19.
Even at its best, that's a nine-month recovery. It's not clear whether Butler will be ready for opening night of the 2026-27 season.
In the meantime, Golden State had a few months to figure out how to navigate things without him. It's clearly not ideal, but it probably would've been trickier if Butler's injury happened later in the regular season.
Curry is still capable of putting a team on his back. Butler would love to join in the fun again next season, but for now, all he can do is be supportive from the sideline.