Jimmy Butler is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College, he transferred to Marquette University. He was drafted with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Nicknamed "Jimmy Buckets", Butler is a five-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Team honoree and a four-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree. In 2015, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.

Born in Houston, Texas, Butler was born into a life a laxity. Shortly after birth, Butler's father abandoned him and his family. When he was 13, living with his mother in a suburb of Houston called Tomball, Butler was kicked out unexpectedly by his mother. Citing that she didn't "like the look" of the young Butler, he was told he, "had to go." Forced to fend for himself and become self-sufficient at an age where most kids were only thinking about sports, girls, and what to do on the weekend. For Butler, the motive was survival.

During the summer before his senior year, Jimmy attended a basketball league, where then freshman Jordan Leslie challenged him to a three-point shooting competition. The two were instant friends, and Butler began to stay over at the Leslie household. After a few months, the Leslie family, already raising six children, decided to take in Butler as their own. As a senior for Tomball, Butler averaged 19pts and 8rebs a game. But what was more significant for the 18yr old was the fact that he had a place to call home, and a loving support system he could call a family. That support system would help the young guard through more tough times. Looking to make a way for himself in basketball, he wasn't heavily recruited by any colleges and chose to attend Tyler Junior College. After one season at the JuCo, he then transferred to Marquette University. During which in his first season he averaged 5pts, and 4rebs per game.

Butler wouldn't stop at just getting minutes for Marquette, he would earn a starting position with the team his junior year. Butler averaged 14.7 points, and 6 rebounds per game during his junior year. That would earn Butler All Big-East Honorable Mention honors and finally a chance to be in the spotlight.

Butler has made a name for himself as one of the top stars in the NBA. Currently with the Miami Heat, he led the team to the 2020 NBA Finals after defeating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in 6 games, earning Butler his first Finals appearance. In Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals, Butler finished with 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists and became the third player in Finals history to record a 40+ point triple-double.

Basketball, Athlete, Sports Speakers, Homelessness & Poverty, Sports