Jimmy Butler III is out with a right knee injury, still in the early stages of his recovery according to the injury report. He is not expected back until Dec. 1, leaving the Warriors without their veteran forward for the start of the season.
What happened
The injury report listed Jimmy Butler III out Sunday at 4:32 a.m. ET with a right knee injury, his first appearance on this report. Danny Emerman of SFStandard.com wrote that Butler is still in the relatively early stages of his recovery and has only recently begun getting back on the court. The report lists an expected return date of Dec. 1. No previous status was noted before this listing.
What it means for the Warriors
Golden State opens its season at the Clippers on Sunday, Oct. 4. Last season Butler averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 31.1 minutes over 38 games, and his absence removes that scoring and playmaking from the lineup. Stephen Curry (30.9 min, 26.6 pts), Brandin Podziemski (28.5 min, 13.8 pts), Draymond Green (27.5 min, 8.4 pts), Moses Moody (25.7 min, 12.1 pts) and Jonathan Kuminga (23.8 min, 12.1 pts) are among those absorbing minutes in his place. The Warriors have not played a regular-season game yet, so there is no record with or without him this season.
What to watch
Butler's next update will come with the team's following injury report. The report lists an expected return date of Dec. 1, which would keep him out for the season opener against the Clippers and the weeks that follow. Golden State's schedule continues through October and November before that target date arrives, and any change in his recovery timeline would appear on a future report.
Is Jimmy Butler III playing at the Clippers?
No. He is out with a right knee injury, according to the injury report.
When will Jimmy Butler III be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Dec. 1, 2026.