Jimmy Butler is one of the best veterans in the NBA, with six all-star appearances, two All-NBA teams, a gold medal, and a Most Improved Player award. Butler is recognized as one of the hardest working players in the league and has always pushed his teammates to be better. While Butler is doing well now, growing up in the neighborhoods outside of Houston life wasn’t so good.

Jimmy had it hard growing up, his father left his family before he could even remember, and without a father figure in his life Jimmy had turned to the streets with his friends, constantly causing trouble. At the age of 13 Jimmy’s mom said to him “I don’t like the look of you. You gotta go.” After this he would move into friends houses for a couple weeks at a time before moving on to the next. The one thing that stayed consistent in Jimmy’s life was the game of basketball, he worked harder than anyone else despite not having a stable home to live in. In a way basketball helped Jimmy find a new home in High School when a teammate’s mom welcomed him into the home despite being a single mother and already having seven children to take care of. Her name was Michelle Lambert and she helped turn Jimmy’s life around, teaching him to work hard, set an example for others, and get good grades. 

As a senior in high school Jimmy was made captain of the basketball team and averaged almost 20 points per game. While he was a good high school player, he got zero division one offers, and so he was forced to go to a junior college and play for the Tyler Junior College Apaches. After continuing to put his head down and grind Jimmy was seen by the coach of Marquette who was scouting another player on the team. He was given a scholarship at Marquette and coach Buzz Williams pushed him harder than anyone else had in his life. He was not immediately a star, averaging only 5.6 points his first year. But as Jimmy Butler kept playing at Marquette he would bloom into a great player and in 2011 Jimmy was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 31st pick in the NBA draft. After struggling to find his spot in the NBA for a few years Jimmy’s game exploded, he averaged 20 points per game and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. 

After all the hardship and struggle in Jimmy’s life, he was always able to turn to basketball as an escape. Jimmy is still one of the greatest leaders the NBA has and will continue to chase a championship. He has always worked harder than everyone on the court and that is why Jimmy Butler is where he is today.