When will Jimmy Butler return? Golden State Warriors star making his body NBA-ready amid concerning injury setback

The Golden State Warriors are not at their best right now. Of course, they have secured the latest 125-117 win against the Washington Wizards but the team is still at 33-35 and for a top franchise, the stat looks poor. Jimmy Butler returned to the sidelines of the Golden State Warriors this week with a smile that caught attention across the locker room. The veteran forward rejoined teammates ahead of the matchup against the Washington Wizards, marking his first appearance around the team since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. The procedure took place on February 9 after he suffered the injury during a January game against the Miami Heat.The season ended abruptly for Butler, who arrived in Golden State shortly before the 2025 trade deadline. Now the focus has shifted to rehabilitation and the long process required to return to the court. While the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, Butler expressed optimism as he began rebuilding strength and mobility.Jimmy Butler made it clear that a return date remains uncertain as the recovery process continues. The six-time All-Star spoke to reporters for the first time since surgery and shared how early the rehabilitation phase still feels.“I feel like I just had surgery on my ACL five weeks ago,” Butler said, adding, “But all in all, I’m good, man. Happy.”The 36 year old admitted the past several weeks have been difficult. Being away from teammates and unable to travel with the squad created a challenge for a player known for his competitive presence.“Not being around my guys,” Butler said. “Hard. Not being able to play the game that I love. Not being able to travel. But the rehab has been going. We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing to try to get back on the timeline we talked about getting back on.”Even with the uncertainty, Butler confirmed his goal remains returning next season.“I do want to come back,” Butler said. “I can’t say when. Obviously, as early as I can to help my guys win some games. But you’ll probably hear me say from time to time (in this process), whenever my body’s ready … whenever my body’s ready, I promise I’m trying to get back out there.”Inside the training room, a progress chart tracks each step of his recovery. It lists weekly targets for mobility, strength, and knee flexibility. The next milestone involves moving away from crutches as his leg regains stability.“Everything we do in rehab is about competing,” Butler said. “Whether it’s today versus yesterday, what my numbers are compared to other people’s past, I (won’t say) any names. It’s competing to see whether you can be better than you were yesterday. So the whole thing makes me lock in because I at least get to compete that way.”Golden State continues to undergo a challenging stretch without several key players, including star guard Stephen Curry.