There’s still no definite timeline for Warriors star Jimmy Butler to return from a torn ACL in his right knee, but he’s determined to make the G League part of his rehab process, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Butler wants to play at least one game for the team’s affiliate in Santa Cruz before returning to the NBA, similar to the way injured baseball players often do rehab stints in the minor leagues.

“Well, y’all gonna get your opportunity come Santa Cruz,” Butler said. “Because I’m definitely coming down there to play. So good luck to everybody. Y’all ain’t gonna get too many minutes out of me, but I’m definitely going down there. I want to hoop.”

Coach Steve Kerr is enthusiastic about the idea, saying it makes sense as a way to get used to competition again after a prolonged layoff, but most NBA players are “too vain” to consider it. Practicing with G League squads has become more common in recent years, but few NBA rotation players have taken part in actual games. Butler has decided it’s the right move, although it might be harder to convince general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.

“I don’t got to clear s— with nobody,” Butler said. “I’m going. Me and Mike will fistfight. He’s gonna be like, ‘Jimmy, no.’ I’m gonna be like, ‘Mike, yes. I’m going to G League, baby!’ Y’all know where to find me. Santa Cruz, baby.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

• Kings center Domantas Sabonis said injuries weren’t to blame for his scoreless outing Tuesday against Orlando, telling reporters that he’s “100%,” relays Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. Sabonis also discussed the toll of going through another losing season with Sacramento, which is off to a 1-10 start. “It sucks. None of us want to be here, in terms of losing,” Sabonis said. “Just seeing this team lose sucks. It hurts me. You want to bring it back, and play good basketball. I feel like we already know we just have to put 48 minutes together.”
• Jalen Green wasn’t in the Suns’ closing lineup during Thursday’s win over Charlotte, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Green sat the entire fourth quarter as coach Jordan Ott opted to rely on Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie and Luke Kennard. “Whatever it takes to win,” Green said after the game. “My number wasn’t called in the fourth.”
• Brandon Ingram played in another “stay ready” game as he moves closer to returning from a partially torn Achilles tendon, but Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he and Yanic Konan Niederhauser will both miss tonight’s NBA Cup contest against Oklahoma City (Twitter video link from Law Murray of The Athletic). Bradley Beal, who hasn’t played in more than a year, continues to be hampered by a knee issue, Murray adds (Twitter link). “Every time we get him on the court to do something three days in a row, then it’s like, it’s not good results,” Lue said.