Jimmy Butler intends to play a regular-season game for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League as part of his recovery from a torn cruciate ligament.
The Golden State Warriors forward outlined his rehabilitation schedule while recovering from the knee injury that has kept him sidelined. Speaking about his path back to the NBA floor, Butler made his intentions clear regarding a minor-league appearance before rejoining the parent club.
“I am going to go to Santa Cruz to play, I am going to play a fucking game,” Butler said, according to remarks reported by Fullcourtpass.
Stars typically use brief assignments with G League affiliates only for controlled scrimmages or practices. A player of Butler’s stature stepping into an official minor-league fixture remains rare.
Jimmy Butler says he is playing a G League game in Santa Cruz as part of his rehab, Via @NickFriedell On whether he cleared it with Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.: “I don’t got to clear s— with nobody. I’m going. Me and Mike will fistfight. He’s gonna be like, ‘Jimmy, no.’ I’m… pic.twitter.com/aebqPE4A2y”
Butler is tracking toward a return to NBA action in early 2027. His current recovery follows the anterior cruciate ligament tear that interrupted his tenure with Golden State.
When asked if he had cleared the unorthodox minor-league plan with front office leadership, Butler offered a characteristically direct response regarding Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
“I don’t got to clear shit with nobody. I’m going. Me and Mike will fistfight. He’s gonna be like, ‘Jimmy, no.’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Mike, yes. I’m going to G League, baby!’ Y’all know where to find me. Santa Cruz, baby,” Butler said.
While the front office evaluates the risk of placing a marquee player with a $56 million salary into a G League environment, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr voiced support for the concept.
Kerr indicated that a temporary assignment to the developmental affiliate makes complete sense for a veteran working to regain timing and conditioning.
Butler traces his basketball roots back through a Junior College path before being selected late in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He said that stepping onto the floor in Santa Cruz mirrors the grind experienced by players fighting for roster spots in the developmental circuit.
“I saw a post on Instagram the other day that said there was like 275 players in the NBA who had played in the G League. It’s going to be 276 soon, baby,” Butler said.
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