Golden State Warriors star Jimmy Butler is planning to play in a G League game as part of his rehabilitation from a torn ACL.
The veteran guard suffered the injury on Jan. 19 and has been working through a year-long recovery process, according to the SFGate report.
Butler confirmed his intentions during an interview with the Athletic, noting that he wants to return to the court with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team’s minor league affiliate.
“I’m definitely coming down there to play,” Butler said.
The plan to play in the minor leagues is unconventional for a player of Butler’s stature, as most NBA stars do not participate in G League games for conditioning.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr expressed support for the move, noting that it mirrors the rehab assignments common in professional baseball.
“I think it makes such perfect sense,” Kerr said in an interview with the Athletic.
Kerr added that he intends to watch Butler play if the schedule allows for it.
While Butler has been ramping up his activity in recent weeks, he acknowledged that his plan to play in Santa Cruz might not be universally popular within the organization.
When asked if he had cleared the decision with general manager Mike Dunleavy, Butler suggested that he was moving forward regardless of management’s approval.
“I don’t got to clear s-t with nobody,” Butler stated.
The player’s agent, Bernard Lee, also voiced frustration regarding the public reporting of these private recovery plans.
Lee criticized the news coverage on social media platform X, as noted by the agent’s public statement.
Despite the controversy, Butler remains focused on his goal of returning to competition.
The Santa Cruz Warriors have home games scheduled throughout December, providing a potential window for Butler to complete his planned appearance.
Butler emphasized that he is eager to return to the sport, stating, “I’m playing in a f-king game.”