Golden State Warriors' NBA Championship Odds Shift Following Jimmy Butler's ACL Injury

Jimmy Butler and the Golden State Warriors were cruising with a three-game winning streak—until Butler suffered a devastating injury on Monday night.

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Butler suffered a season-ending torn right ACL. The injury occurred midway through the third quarter, when Butler went down, grimacing in pain. At approximately the 7:41 mark in the third, Butler attempted to catch a pass inside, but collided with the Heat's Davion Mitchell.

Butler, injured against his former team, was eventually helped off the court, and the announcement broke in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite a 135–112 victory over the Miami Heat, the Warriors face several questions.

Butler was notably traded to the Warriors last season in a blockbuster five-team deal that sent Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, and a 2025 first-round pick to Miami. Pairing up with Stephen Curry, Golden State fell short of a championship, defeated 4-1 by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals.

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End of a Dynasty in Golden State?

Butler, 36, averaged 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals with Golden State this season. In 38 games, he shot 51.9% from the field and 37.6% from beyond the arc. It's time to address the elephant in the room—the Warriors' championship window is narrowing as Curry, Butler, and Draymond Green are in their mid-30s.

Considered one of the most successful franchises in NBA history, the Golden State Warriors have won seven NBA Championships, including four from 2015 to 2022.

Having immediately signed a two-year $112 million contract extension upon the trade, have we seen the last of Butler in Golden State? Is it an era in the Bay? Or will the Warriors make drastic moves before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline?

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How Jimmy Butler's Injury Impacts Golden State Warriors NBA Championship Betting Odds

• Current Western Conference Winner: +7000 (FanDuel)
• NBA Championship Winner: +12500 (FanDuel)

If you're looking to bet on the NBA, Ballislife has all the future team and player bets on our website. 

Prior to Butler's injury, the Warriors had +3500 odds to win the 2025–2026 NBA Title. Following the news, their odds have worsened to +12500 on FanDuel and +7500 on Caesars.

There's no question that this is a major setback for the Warriors, who are placed in a competitive Western Conference. With Butler, the Warriors were likely headed towards a play-in team. But where does Steve Kerr and his squad head now? Riding a four-game win streak, they sit eighth behind the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Rockets, Lakers, and Suns.

Winning a championship will be a tall task for the Warriors, who have to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić, and Anthony Edwards in the same conference! Not to mention, the Thunder once again lead the West with a 36-8 record. 11 games out of first— is it time to hit the panic button?

Butler was undoubtedly the Warriors' second-best player, with Curry and Butler combining for 47.4 points per game. Ranking No. 4 in defensive rating (112.2), Butler was the two-way force that Golden State desperately needed. Without him, they lose one of their biggest stars. Over the last 10 games, Butler was averaging 21.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals.

Shooting 53.2% from the field, Butler recently erupted for 30 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals against the Hawks last week.

The Golden State Warriors' Championship Chances Plummet

The question remains: Where do the Warriors go from here? Reports say Jonathan Kuminga requested a trade out of Golden State. Is this similar to a Boston Celtics team that imploded following Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury? While the Celtics had tax implications operating under the second apron, the Warriors could follow Boston's similar path.

According to NBA analyst Keith Smith, the Golden State Warriors are unable to apply for a disabled player exception (DPE). With Curry left to carry, can Golden State rely on its depth? After all, this is a roster that runs deep, averaging the second-most bench points in the NBA with 44.2.

Can Dub Nation rely on Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, or Buddy Hield to replace Butler? We've seen a couple of breakout games—is it time for the Pat Spencer era?

Either way, the Warriors' odds to win the NBA Championship have lengthened, and they offer the best value at +12500 on FanDuel. Caesars has them priced at +7500, but let's face it—it may not be their year. The Thunder are favored to repeat as NBA Champions at +115 betting odds on BetMGM and Caesars.

Overall, Golden State's championship odds have slid following the injury news. That said, the Thunder, Nuggets, Spurs, Knicks, and Celtics all remain top dogs in the eyes of odds makers. Here are the current NBA Championship odds for the 2025–2026 season...

2025–2026 NBA Championship Odds

*All betting odds are provided by Ballislife Bets.*

Could Golden State Make a Trade?

The Warriors are favored to make the playoffs (-225), and odds makers still envision them to make (somewhat) of a run. With the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline approaching, here are some players that the Warriors could target.

If the Warriors are going to fill some holes, this is a team that puts up 116.7 points per game and averages the most 3-pointers per game in the NBA with 16.4 3PM on 44.5 attempts.  Shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc as a team, this is a squad that heavily relies on shooting the rock. Although they signed veteran Al Horford in the offseason, the Warriors averaged the second-fewest paint points per game (42.7).

This all comes down to whether the Warriors are willing to move Kuminga, one of the few bigger defenders left on the roster. While Green is a defensive player, he's not as elite as he once was. It's important to note that Kuminga hasn't logged playing time since Dec. 18. Averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, Kuminga could stay and redeem himself with the franchise.

We are talking about a player who averaged 15.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, shooting 40% from the free-throw line, in eight playoff games for the Warriors last season. While getting lost in Kerr's rotation, is it vital to retain Kuminga?

Trade Options

Sure, the Warriors could trade Butler, but is there a large market for him following the injury? Owed $54 million in salary, he's set to become a free agent in 2027. Golden State could use rim protection, and  Anthony Davis could be an option. However, he's injured and wouldn't fill their immediate shooting needs.

Names such as Ja Morant, Zach LaVine, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Davis have floated around the surface ahead of the trade deadline. While Antetokounmpo seems committed to Milwaukee, trading for the "Greek Freak" would immediately make Golden State contenders. With Trae Young shipped to the Nation's Capital, even Morant has subtly hinted at his desire to stay in Memphis with a tattoo.

While the Warriors' title chances plummet, will Steve Kerr rely on Kuminga and its depth? Will Golden State make a trade? Is it the official end of an era in the Bay?