Ahead of a critical 2025-26 season, six-time All-Star Golden State Warriors small forward Jimmy Butler has already incurred a new injury.
Per Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr announced on Saturday that the 6-foot-7 Marquette product is a “question mark” ahead of the club’s preseason debut this weekend, a Sunday home tilt against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jimmy Butler did not practice yesterday or today after rolling his ankle a few days ago
Steve Kerr calls him a “question mark” to play in tomorrow’s preseason opener
Trayce Jackson-Davis’ right thumb is taped and he’s also questionable. TJD says he’s fine, though
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Johnson reports that Butler rolled his ankle recently, and has skipped Golden State’s last two practices while recovering.
Other ailing Warriors at the start of preseason
Reserve center Trayce Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, is dealing with a right thumb injury, although he insists it shouldn’t be seen as a long-term concern.
Butler was acquired by the Warriors in a blockbuster multi-team midseason deal, after failing to come to terms with the Miami Heat the previous summer.
In his 30 games with Golden State last year, Butler averaged 17.9 points on .476/.279/.870 shooting splits, 5.9 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals. He also transformed the Warriors, who had been flirting with life as a lottery-level team for a second straight season prior to the deal, into legitimate fringe title contenders.
Golden State finished the season with a respectable 48-34 record and advanced to the second round, but when All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry went down with a hamstring injury in Game 1, the Minnesota Timberwolves made quick work of the Warriors, beating them in five contests.
The 2025-26 Warriors are angling to be even better than the team was at the end of last season, post-Butler deal. To that end, Golden State has signed 3-and-D former All-Star Boston Celtics big man Al Horford and brought back De’Anthony Melton, while also adding another sharpshooting guard in Seth Curry, younger brother to Stephen.
