Earlier this February, Jimmy Butler agreed to a two-year, $121 million extension to stay with the Warriors through 2027. And even in practice sessions, he’s proving every penny is worth it. With Draymond Green boldly claiming the Warriors would win the championship this offseason, it will be exciting to see if that prediction comes true this year. 

This preseason, Butler is already showing why he’s title-worthy. Buddy Hield raved about his performance during Friday’s practice, saying, “Jimmy dominated practice today. It was great for him. He looked really good and professional today. It was great. Great energy.” Hield added, “I just think he took it up a notch today. He wasn’t chirping like that Jimmy we know of. He was a silent killer, and his work speaks for itself.” It was not the usual Butler we see on the court.

The Warriors star has clearly brought intensity and focus, leaving teammates impressed and energized for the season ahead. In the last two preseason games, Butler has been on fire, playing just over 30 minutes across both matchups.

His latest outing against the Portland Trail Blazers was particularly strong, as he scored 12 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while drawing eight trips to the free-throw line.

Last season, Jimmy Butler made a big impact in his 30 games with the Warriors, helping the team to a 23-7 record and a 76.7% winning percentage, bettered only by the Cavaliers (78.0%) and the Thunder (82.9%). Expecting him to play 70 or more games this season might be a stretch, given he hasn’t reached that mark since 2016-17 with the Bulls. 

Even 60–65 games with Butler healthy for the postseason could be enough to keep Golden State in strong title contention. Staying healthy is the main concern for Butler and the Warriors as a whole which is another topic entirely.

The injury bug caught up to him in the playoffs, too, last season. In Game 2 of the 2025 first-round NBA playoff series between the Warriors and the Rockets, Butler suffered a pelvic contusion and deep gluteal muscle contusion. The injury occurred late in the first quarter when Butler jumped for a rebound and was fouled by Rockets wing Amen Thompson, who collided with Butler’s legs mid-air.

This caused Butler to land awkwardly on his backside, leading to a hard fall. He limped to the free-throw line, made one of two shots, and exited the game shortly after, not returning for the Warriors’ 109-94 loss. An MRI the following day confirmed no structural damage, like a fracture, but the deep bruise sidelined him for all of Game 3.

This isn’t due to being “injury-prone” in a genetic sense but largely stems from his ultra-physical, high-effort playing style, which prioritizes toughness over self-preservation.

Butler is a classic “old-school” small forward who thrives on attacking the rim, drawing fouls, and initiating contact to earn free throws. This mid-range, bulldozing approach- often finishing through defenders rather than pulling up for jumpers- leads to frequent bangs and bruises, including strains, sprains, and contusions from collisions or awkward landings.

On top of that, he’s an elite two-way player. Butler logs heavy minutes guarding the opponent’s best wing or guard while crashing the boards, diving for loose balls, fighting through screens, and boxing out, exposing him to hard falls, hip checks, and lower-body torque, contributing to recurring issues like ankle tweaks, knee strains.

However, Jimmy is yet to wear an NBA ring, though he did reach the Finals twice with the Miami Heat but never lifted the trophy. Now, in his first full year with the Warriors, his focus isn’t on his own legacy but on helping Steph Curry and Draymond Green add another title to their resumes. “It would mean the world to me, but it would mean the world to me if they won,” Butler told NBC Sports Bay Area.

Curry and Green’s accomplishments speak for themselves. Curry, with four NBA titles and two MVPs, is widely considered the greatest shooter in history, while Green, also a four-time champion, is the defensive heartbeat of the franchise with a Defensive Player of the Year award and nine All-Defensive Team selections.

Adding a fifth ring for both would cement their place among the A-listers, and Butler is determined to help make that happen.

But there might be a roadblock standing in the way of that dream coming true. 

Butler sidelined for second clash with Lakers?

This electric start, however, might have just hit a small hiccup following his ankle injury last week, which caused him to miss two practice sessions before the preseason games kicked off. It’s a minor injury, sure, but talk about a bad omen! 

As if the Warriors weren’t already under the microscope for being one of the oldest teams this season, this just added more salt to the wound. And to top it off, fans got another piece of disappointing news.

The Golden State Warriors will take on the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time this preseason on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, but Jimmy Butler won’t be playing. “Jimmy Butler practiced Friday but will miss Warriors–Lakers on Sunday in LA. Excused absence. Steve Kerr says the reason is positive,” wrote Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Butler practiced Friday and is expected back on the court Saturday, aiming to rejoin the team for Tuesday’s exhibition in Portland. With him out, the Warriors could turn to Jonathan Kuminga to step in at small forward for Sunday’s game.

But Butler isn’t alone. The Warriors have others on the roster dealing with setbacks as well. The status of center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who practiced with his right thumb taped, remains uncertain, though he told reporters it’s just a precaution.

De’Anthony Melton is still rehabbing from ACL surgery and will miss the entire preseason. Meanwhile, rookie forward Alex Toohey continues to sit out due to an ankle issue, a constant problem since the start of training camp.

For the Warriors, Sunday will be their third game in the five-game preseason schedule, having already defeated the Lakers 111-103 in their previous matchup (2-0). The game will also see LeBron James sitting out, leaving the Lakers to navigate without their 40-year-old superstar. Again!

As for Butler, his absence shouldn’t be a concern—he’s already shown he’s in top shape for the season, as mentioned above. Fans can look forward to seeing him suit up alongside Curry, Green, and Kuminga for the full season.