Jimmy Butler is ready to take a detour on his road back to the NBA. The Golden State Warriors star says he will play at least one G League game for the Santa Cruz Warriors before he returns.

"I'm going down to Santa Cruz to hoop," Butler said this week. "It may not be for long, but I'm going to play in Santa Cruz."

Butler, 37, tore the ACL in his right knee on Jan. 19 in a game against the Miami Heat. He had surgery on Feb. 9 and has not played since.

Kerr is all in

Coach Steve Kerr loved the plan when he heard about it before Wednesday's game in Houston. "Oh, hell yeah," he said. "I love that."

Kerr compared it to baseball, where injured players often go to the minor leagues for a few rehab games. "It makes perfect sense, but I've never really seen a star player go to the G League," he said.

He also promised to make the trip. "As long as we don't have a game, I will be there," Kerr said.

Butler admitted general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. may not be a fan of the idea. The two were once teammates on the Chicago Bulls.

Something new for a star

No player of Butler's stature has ever played a G League game on a rehab assignment. Stephen Curry practiced with Santa Cruz before coming back from a broken hand in March 2020. Serge Ibaka played four G League games in 2021.

Butler said a social media post about NBA players who spent time in the G League gave him the idea. It said about 275 players had done it. "It's finna be 276," Butler said.

He had a warning for the young players in Santa Cruz. "Y'all ain't gonna get too many minutes out of me, but I'm definitely going down there," he said. "I want to hoop."

Warriors need the help

There is still no set date for Butler's return. The team said earlier this fall it hoped to have him back early in 2027.

Golden State could use him soon. Curry is out at least two weeks with a torn oblique muscle.