Jimmy Butler is probably not a fan favorite among the Philadelphia 76ers faithful, but real ball knowers know that the 2018-19 squad, which also featured the All-Star, is probably the most loaded team the franchise has had in decades. After all, that team was a legendary shot away from making it to the Conference Finals, and they were talented enough to make it to the biggest stage.
Unfortunately, the tale of Butler has taken an ugly turn seven years later. Now with the Warriors, he recently tore his ACL, which not only takes him out of commission for the rest of the season, but also for a good chunk of the following campaign. Having said that, there is no guarantee that he will look the same when he gets back from injury.
The six-time All-Star is now 36 years old, and Father Time has definitely started catching up to him. While still one of the best all-around players in the league, his durability has waned, and this ACL tear will only make it difficult for him to remain effective when he returns to the hardwood. As such, there is a chance that we might have already seen the last of Butler playing like an All-Star caliber player.
Former 76ers star Jimmy Butler will have a hard time returning to playing at a high level
In all fairness to Butler, he is not built like most 36-year-olds. He has invested a lot in his body despite the nagging injuries he has had, but an ACL tear at his age is simply more tedious to deal.
Golden State is on the tailend of its dynastic run, and a rebuild could very well be on its way. And if that is the case, Butler’s time in San Francisco may be over pretty quickly — not merely from a contractual sense, but from an actual basketball viewpoint.
Unlike the 76ers, the Warriors do not have a foundational core for the future. As such, they could deem it of extreme urgency to start handing the reigns to their younger commodities not named Steph Curry, with Butler as one of the clearest casualties in that regard.
The Dubs’ brain trust will take its time with Butler, but once he returns, things could look very different in Golden State. For now, they are desperately clinging onto the last bits of their competitive juice, but given how brutal the West is, that seems to be an increasingly moot escapade.