Before becoming the NBA star he is today, Jimmy Butler had a rough past.Recently, Jimmy Butler caused a stir in the NBA with a blockbuster transfer deal between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.
As one of the best all-around offensive stars in the NBA, Jimmy Butler has brought the strength of the Philadelphia 76ers to new heights, enough to compete with giants in the East such as the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors. .
To become the NBA star he is today, Jimmy Butler had to go through a not so smooth past.
Jimmy Butler was raised in a small town outside Houston. Since he was a child, Jimmy Butler’s father abandoned his family. It was thought that mother and child would live dependent on each other, but no. At the age of 13, Jimmy Butler was kicked out of home by his mother and determined to disown him.
A middle school student like Jimmy Butler at that time had no assets in his hands. His days of wandering began from here. Jimmy Butler had to go to each friend’s house to ask for temporary shelter for a few weeks and then move to another place.
Continuing like this, Jimmy Butler wandered aimlessly. Of course, there were times when he had to sleep on the street because not everyone was qualified or kind enough to be willing to help.
Even so, he still did not give up his passion for basketball. Jimmy Butler lived a wandering life like that until Tomball High School’s summer basketball tournament. At that time, he met Jordan Leslie, a first-year student who loved basketball and football.
Jordan Leslie challenged Jimmy Butler to a 3-point shooting contest. Soon after, the two became close friends. Luckily for Jimmy Butler, Jordan Leslie’s mother and stepfather are both affectionate people.
Knowing Jimmy Butler’s situation, they adopted him. “They adopted me, accepted me into their family. And it wasn’t because of basketball. It was simply that Leslie’s mother, she was so full of humanity. I really couldn’t believe it when I found out,” Jimmy Butler recounts.
Once settled in, Jimmy Butler began to focus more on basketball. He became captain of the Tomball High School basketball team. However, Jimmy Butler did not get the attention of college coaches. Graduating from Tomball School, Jimmy Butler went to study and play for Tyler Junior College, a school with no reputation for basketball.
With averages of 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists after his first year playing for Tyler, Jimmy Butler began to receive attention from schools in NCAA Division I.
At that time, Jimmy Butler was only rated 2 stars and ranked 127th. Ultimately, he accepted an athletic scholarship from Marquette University.
Coach Buzz Williams of Marquette University shared this about Jimmy Butler: “He is always confident in himself but never arrogant. Jimmy Butler understands better than anyone the value of practice. He learn more than what people think”.
In his sophomore year, Jimmy Butler was inserted into the starting lineup of the Marquette University basketball team. And whatever happens must come, Jimmy Butler’s hard work has brought results. After finishing year 3, the opportunity to enter the NBA opened for Jimmy Butler.
Of course, like many times before, Jimmy Butler was not highly appreciated. Especially when Marquette has two better student stars than him, Wesley Matthew and Jerel McNeal.
The coach of the LA Clippers, Doc Rivers, who held the position of coach of the Boston Celtics at that time, also confirmed that he did not see anything outstanding from Jimmy Butler.
“At that time, I didn’t see anything in him. I really liked Jimmy Butler’s story of overcoming difficulties. But that all stopped there. It’s like I liked Jimmy Butler when I was 13 years old but as a player. NBA players, I’m not sure.
Looking back, it’s clear that Jimmy Butler was one of the best names in that year’s NBA Draft. But most people don’t see his talent. Me too. I didn’t see Jimmy Butler growing to where he is today,” Doc Rivers recalled of the 2011 NBA Draft.
However, Chicago Bulls general manager Gar Forman was interested in Jimmy Butler’s play. Gar Forman believed that a player with a tough and determined mentality like Jimmy Butler would be suitable for Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau at that time.
How will the Philadelphia 76ers use the starting lineup with Jimmy Butler?What did LeBron James say about the blockbuster Jimmy Butler deal?Jimmy Butler was finally selected 30th in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. In the NBA, he began to continue to do what he did best. That’s practice and learning.
From a rookie defender who only knew how to defend, who was criticized by the legendary Richard Hamilton for throwing the ball too horizontally, Jimmy Butler gradually improved his ability, won the title “Most Improved Player” in 2015, and entered the NBA All three times in a row. -Star (2015-2018).
Now, he stands before a new threshold in his career. At the Philadelphia 76ers, Jimmy Butler had the opportunity to play for the first time