Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler responded to his season-ending knee injury by resurrecting a familiar joke on social media.
Hours after tearing the ACL in his right knee against the Miami Heat on Monday night, the 36-year-old posted an edited Instagram image that shows him in vintage military garb with the caption “general soreness.”
The phrase dates to the 2018-19 campaign, when then-Minnesota Timberwolves coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau listed Butler as out on Oct. 31, 2018, with “general soreness.” Butler missed another game four days later, sparking a viral meme that depicted him as a literal military general. In a January 2019 interview with reporter Chris Haynes, Butler said his financial adviser considered the meme “the funniest thing in the world.” Minnesota traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in November 2018.
Key role in Golden State
Golden State acquired Butler from the Heat last February. According to ESPN Research, the Warriors are 46-22 with him in the lineup and 2-5 without him this season, outscoring opponents by 185 points when he is on the floor.
Details of the injury
The six-time All-Star was hurt in the second quarter Monday when he jumped to receive a pass from Brandin Podziemski and landed awkwardly while defended by Heat guard Davion Mitchell. Butler fell to the court and needed assistance to reach the locker room. The team announced he will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Butler averaged 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists before the injury.
Source: ESPN
