Jimmy Butler’s presence at the Golden State Warriors’ training camp in Hawaii is far from passive, despite his ongoing recovery from ACL surgery. The 37-year-old forward, sidelined since February following the procedure, has remained an active figure around the team, engaging with teammates and contributing in ways beyond the court.
At the camp, Butler has been something of a mentor and motivator, especially for younger players like Malevy Leons, a two-way forward who has quickly picked up on Butler’s influence. Leons recently appeared at practice sporting a full array of accessories—a blue arm sleeve, yellow arm sleeve, black headband, and white knee sleeves—a look inspired by a conversation with Butler during a players-only minicamp in San Diego. “Jimmy talked to me about that,” Leons said, explaining his effort to “get my swag up.” The gesture reflects Butler’s involvement in more than just physical rehab; he’s injecting humor and personality into the camp environment.
Head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Butler’s active role. “Jimmy’s staying active with his humor,” Kerr said during Saturday’s practice. Although Butler can’t rush back from a torn ACL, Kerr noted that Butler’s commitment to the process is clear. On Thursday at a scrimmage held at BYU-Hawaii, Butler stayed close to the action, moving along the perimeter, taking a few layups, and spinning a basketball on his finger while watching from the sidelines.
Warriors director of performance Rick Celebrini, alongside longtime trainer Armando Rivas—who has worked with Butler at every NBA stop—has designed a careful rehabilitation plan. Butler follows it strictly, arriving each morning at BYU’s gym to shoot and work on-court drills before team practice begins. The daily routine, while painstaking, takes place in Hawaii’s relaxed setting. Still, Butler is aware his return isn’t imminent. Historical data suggests a possible comeback around February 2027, roughly a year after surgery.
At Monday’s media day, Butler spoke candidly about his eagerness to return. “I know that I will return still being able to play at a high level, but I want to hoop now,” he said. “I wanted to hoop two months ago, three months ago. I want to go out there and compete with my guys, with [Draymond Green], be Robin again to [Stephen Curry’s] Batman. I know I will be able to do that at an incredibly high level, but I just miss the game. I miss not being around my guys.”
Butler’s influence extends beyond motivation. He’s taken a special interest in mentoring Gui Santos, 24, who signed a three-year extension last February and is expected to shoulder a bigger offensive load while Butler recovers. Santos has sought to learn from Butler’s approach to the game, particularly his controlled style. “When he was playing, I was watching him playing, like, all the time,” Santos told the Chronicle. “Jimmy’s always under control. Nobody speeds him up. Doesn’t matter how tall is the guy, how strong is the guy. Jimmy will get to the spot that he wants to get. He’s gonna take his time. He will either pass, like, find a great shot, or he will shoot it and make a good play.”
Santos aims to improve his own game by adopting Butler’s steadiness, a shift that has been noticeable to others at camp. Leons remarked on Santos’s developing skill set, saying, “Like, the two-foot stuff—he kind of uses the same stuff that Jimmy does, the multiple fakes Jimmy always does.”
Butler’s role as a mentor is complemented by his practical contributions. After one practice, he shot free throws for the team to save them from extra running drills. Kerr confirmed Butler is “working really hard” with Leons, suggesting the pair might form a “buddy-cop” style relationship on and off the court.
Despite the limitations of his injury, Butler keeps his competitive edge. During Friday’s practice, Leons recalled Butler challenging a series of coaches to one-on-one matchups, confident he could “get buckets” on them even while not fully fit. This mix of seriousness and humor epitomizes Butler’s presence in Hawaii.
While Butler won’t be traveling with the team as he continues his rehab, his involvement at camp speaks to his desire to stay connected. “It’s never all bad,” Butler said at media day. “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s all good, either. But I think my main job is going to be like, ‘Hey, guys, I can’t go out there and play with you individuals, but that doesn’t mean that this is a bad day. I still get to be around y’all. I still get to call myself an NBA player.’”
According to Yahoo Sports.
