Golden State Warriors guard Jimmy Butler III underwent surgery on his right knee Monday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that ended his season last month.
The procedure was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum. The Warriors said Butler will begin a rehabilitation program immediately, with updates on his progress expected early next season.
Butler suffered the injury on Jan. 19 during the third quarter of a win against his former team, the Miami Heat. After catching a pass in the paint, he collided with Heat guard Davion Mitchell — who was called for a foul — and landed awkwardly, causing his knee to buckle. He remained down for several minutes, visibly in pain, before teammates Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield helped escort him off the court.
Monday’s matchup against Memphis marked Butler’s 10th missed game. Since his absence, the Warriors have struggled to find the same offensive balance.
Before the injury, Butler was averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.5 steals in 31.1 minutes per game over 38 contests. He was acquired by Golden State last year in the trade that sent Andrew Wiggins to Miami.
