Here’s a gut-wrenching moment for Golden State Warriors fans: Jimmy Butler, the team’s versatile wing, was forced to leave Tuesday night’s 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns due to lingering lower back soreness. But here’s where it gets concerning—this isn’t a new issue. The discomfort first surfaced after the Warriors’ Saturday night loss in Indianapolis, casting a shadow over Butler’s availability for the Suns game.
Initially listed as questionable, Butler went through a pre-game warmup 90 minutes before tipoff and was cleared to play. However, his performance in the first half hinted at trouble. In just 14 minutes, he missed four of his five shot attempts, visibly struggling to move with his usual explosiveness. At the 7:04 mark of the second quarter, he was subbed out and later headed to the locker room, never returning to the bench for the second half. The team officially ruled him out in the third quarter, ending his night with a modest stat line of two points, four rebounds, two assists, and one turnover.
And this is the part most people miss—Butler’s durability has been a cornerstone of the Warriors’ success since his trade to the team in February. He’s appeared in 30 of 31 regular-season games and even gutted through a brutal tailbone injury during the playoffs, missing just one game. This season, he’d started all eight games before Tuesday’s early exit, making his absence all the more alarming.
With the Warriors facing a back-to-back in Sacramento on Wednesday and eight of their next nine games on the road, the timing couldn’t be worse. Here’s the controversial question: How much can the Warriors afford to rely on Butler if this injury persists? While his toughness is undeniable, the team’s schedule demands a healthy roster. Will this be a minor setback, or the start of a larger concern? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this could be a turning point in the Warriors’ season.
