Jimmy Butler III (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed " Jimmy Buckets", he is a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He won a gold medal as a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
Butler played one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College before transferring to Marquette University. He was selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. In 2015, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player. After six seasons in Chicago, he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in June 2017, and was then again traded in November 2018, this time to the Philadelphia 76ers. In July 2019, he signed with the Miami Heat. During his first season with the team, Butler reached the NBA Finals. In 2021, he led the league in steals. In 2023, Butler and the eighth-seeded Heat played in the 2023 NBA Finals, their second appearance in four years. Amidst conflicts with the Heat's front office, Butler was traded to the Warriors in 2025.
In a summer basketball league before his senior year at Tomball High School, he was noticed by Jordan Leslie, a freshman football and basketball player at the school, who challenged him to a three-point shooting contest. The two became friends, and Butler stayed at Leslie's house for a few months, Leslie's mother and stepfather had six other children between them. Butler would later say, "They accepted me into their family. And it wasn't because of basketball. She Michelle was just very loving. She just did stuff like that. I couldn't believe it."
As a junior at Tomball High, Butler averaged 10 points per game. As a senior and team captain in 2006–07, Butler averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and was subsequently voted his team's most valuable player.
Butler was not recruited coming out of high school and chose to attend Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas.
Butler accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Marquette, where, as a sophomore in the 2008–09 season, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and recorded a free-throw percentage of 76.8%. He moved into the starting lineup as a junior during the 2009–10 season to average 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and received All-Big East Honorable Mention honors. Butler had two game-winning shots versus UConn and St. John's, to help Marquette finish 11–7 in the Big East and earn its fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. As a senior in 2010–11, he averaged 15.7 points per game and received All-Big East Honorable Mention for the second straight year.
Butler missed 15 games due to injury in the 2013–14 season, but averaged a career-high and season league-high 38.7 minutes per game in the 67 in which he played. He scored a season-high 26 points against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 30. He set a franchise record when he played 60:20 in a triple-overtime game against the Orlando Magic on January 15, finishing with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. At the season's end, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
On April 20, Butler set a playoff career high for the second straight game, scoring 31 points in the Bulls' 91–82 win over the Milwaukee Bucks to take a 2–0 lead in their first-round series. On April 25, Butler again set a playoff career high with 33 points, in a Bulls' 92–90 loss to the Bucks, holding their series lead to 3–2. They went on to win game 6 of the series, moving them onto the conference semifinals where they lost 4–2 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On May 7, he was named the 2014–15 NBA Most Improved Player and became the first player in franchise history to win the award.
On July 9, 2015, Butler re-signed with the Bulls to a five-year, $95 million contract. The deal included a player option for the fifth year. On December 9, he scored a then career-high 36 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. He topped that mark with 43 points on December 18 in a 147–144 quadruple overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons. On January 3, Butler broke Michael Jordan's team record for points in a half, scoring 40 of his 42 after the break to lead the Bulls to a 115–113 win over the Toronto Raptors. Two days later, he recorded 32 points and a then season-high 10 assists in a 117–106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. On January 14, he scored a career-high 53 points in a 115–111 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Butler had 10 rebounds and six assists while making 15-of-30 field goals and 21-of-25 free throws to help the Bulls end a three-game losing streak. He became the first Bulls player to score 50 points in a game since Jamal Crawford in 2004.
On February 5, Butler suffered a left knee strain in a game against the Denver Nuggets, and missed the next month. That included the 2016 NBA All-Star Game, to which he had been voted in; he was replaced by teammate Pau Gasol. Butler missed 11 games with the knee injury, returning to action for the Bulls on March 5, against the Houston Rockets. In 34 minutes of playing, he recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and one steal in a 108–100 win, helping the Bulls break a four-game losing streak. He returned to the sidelines on March 7, for the team's game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to back soreness and swelling in his left knee. After a three-game absence, he returned to play on March 14 against the Toronto Raptors. On April 2, he recorded his first career triple-double with 28 points and career highs of 17 rebounds and 12 assists in a 94–90 loss to the Detroit Pistons. In the Bulls' season finale on April 13, Butler recorded his second career triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115–105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
On January 2, 2017, Butler scored 52 points in a 118–111 win over the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 20 points in the first half and 17 in the game's final four minutes. He also had 12 rebounds and six assists, while shooting 21-of-22 from the free-throw line. On January 7, he hit the 40-point mark for the third time in six games, finishing with 42 points in a 123–118 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors. Two days later, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, January 2 through Sunday, January 8. On January 19, Butler was named a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. After questioning the desire of the team's younger players following a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on January 25, Butler was fined and held out of the starting lineup against the Miami Heat on January 27. He finished with three points on 1-for-13 shooting. On February 25, 2017, he recorded his third career triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 117–99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. On March 26, 2017, he had 20 points and a then career-high 14 assists in a 109–94 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. On April 6, 2017, he recorded his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 102–90 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
On January 23, he was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve. On February 9, in his return to Chicago, Butler scored 38 points in a 114–113 loss to the Bulls. Butler chose to not play in the All-Star Game, saying that the rest would benefit him for the stretch run of the season. In the Timberwolves' first game after the All-Star break, on February 23 against the Houston Rockets, Butler left the game late in the third quarter with a right knee injury. Two days later, he underwent meniscus surgery and was ruled out indefinitely. He returned just shy of six weeks later, on April 6, and scored 18 points in a 113–96 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. In game 3 of the Timberwolves' first-round playoff series against the Rockets, Butler made four 3-pointers among his 28 points in a 121–105 win. The Timberwolves went on to lose the series in five games.
Shortly before training camp in 2018, Butler requested a trade from the Timberwolves, accusing younger players of being insufficiently motivated, while indicating he would not re-sign with the team in the 2019 off-season. A month later Butler joined practice for the first time since the trade request, and teamed up with third-string players to scrimmage and win against the team's usual starters. Much of the time he spent shouting at and taunting general manager Scott Layden, head coach Tom Thibodeau, as well as various teammates. When a trade was not achieved prior to the start of the regular season, Butler opted to play for Minnesota in 2018–19. He appeared in 10 of the Timberwolves' first 13 games before being traded in early November.
On August 31, in game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Butler scored a then playoff career-high 40 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field in a 115–104 win over the first-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. On September 8, Miami advanced to the next round after game 5 win, thus completing the upset. The Heat reached the NBA Finals after defeating the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals in six games, earning Butler his first finals appearance. In game 3 of the NBA Finals, Butler registered a triple-double of 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in a winning effort. He became the third player in finals history to record a 40+ point triple-double, joining LeBron James (then with Cleveland) in 2015 and Jerry West with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969. Butler also became the first player to have more points, rebounds and assists in a finals game than James, who finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. In game 5, Butler had 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and five steals in a 111–108 victory. He became the first player to register 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a finals game. He is also the second player to reach such stats in NBA playoff history after Gary Payton in 2000. Butler became the second player with multiple 30-point triple-doubles in the same finals series, joining James in 2015. He became the sixth player with multiple triple-doubles in a finals series along with James, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Draymond Green. The Heat would go on to lose to the Lakers in six games. Butler became only the second player in a finals series to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, joining James in 2016. He finished the finals averaging 26.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.
On February 11, 2021, Butler recorded his 10th career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the Heat's 101–94 win over the Houston Rockets. On February 18, Butler logged his 13th career triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists in a 118–110 win over the Sacramento Kings, becoming the first player in franchise history with three consecutive triple-doubles. Together with teammate Bam Adebayo who posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, they became the first pair in league history to register triple-doubles in the same game more than once. Butler finished the regular season leading the league in steals with 2.1 steals per game. In the playoffs, the Heat were eliminated in a four-game sweep by the Milwaukee Bucks, who would go on to win the NBA Finals. In game 4, Butler recorded his third career playoff triple-double.
On April 17, during game 1 of the first round of the playoffs, he logged 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 115–91 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Two days later, he posted a then playoff career-high 45 points along with five rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers in a game 2 115–105 win. Butler became only the third player in franchise history to have at least 45 points, five assists and five rebounds in a postseason game, joining James and Dwyane Wade. He also became the fifth player since 1978 to have at least 45 points and zero turnovers in an NBA playoff game. In game 4 of the series, on April 24, Butler recorded 36 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals in a 110–86 win. On May 8, in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Butler recorded 40 points on 13-of-20 shooting from the field in a 116–108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
On May 17, in game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Butler posted 41 points (27 in the second half), nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks in a 118–107 win over the Boston Celtics. He became the first player in NBA postseason history to meet all of those benchmarks since steals and blocks were first recorded in 1974. Butler posted his fifth career playoff game with 40 points on 60 percent shooting, and tied with Charles Barkley for third-most over the last 30 playoffs. The only players that have more such games are James (12) and Shaquille O'Neal (8). Butler also achieved the most 40-point, 5-rebound and 5-assist playoff games in Heat history with three, one more than James and Wade. On May 21, Butler injured his right knee and did not play in the second half of game 3. Despite this, Miami won the game 109–103 and took a 2–1 series lead. In game 6 of the series, on May 27, Butler scored a playoff career-high 47 points along with nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals to lead Miami to a 111–103 win and force game 7. He made 16 of 29 shots, including 4-of-8 from the three-point range and all 11 free throws. Butler's 47 points were the seventh-most in NBA history for a player facing elimination. He also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to have multiple games of at least 40 points and four steals in the same series.
The Heat lost the series in seven games, despite Butler's 35-point and nine-rebound outing in a 100–96 loss in a decisive game 7, where he missed his game-winning three-pointer with 16 seconds left in the game. Butler had his eighth 30-point game of the postseason, making it the most in a single postseason by a Heat player since James in 2013, who also had eight such games.
On April 14, Butler in his second play-in appearance scored a game-high 31 points to help the Heat take a 102–91 win over his former team, the Chicago Bulls, and secure the eighth seed for the playoffs. He and Max Strus became the third Heat duo with 30 points apiece in a playoff or play-in game.
As the Eastern Conference eighth seed, the Heat faced off in the first round of the playoffs against top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. In game 1, Butler recorded 35 points, five rebounds, 11 assists and three steals as Miami won 130–117. This performance moved Butler to second place in 35+ point playoff games in Heat franchise history (10), surpassing LeBron James (9) and trailing only Dwyane Wade (14). In game 4 of series, Butler scored a career-high 56 points on 19-for-28 shooting from the field and 15-of-18 shooting from the free throw line, including a franchise-record 22 points in the first quarter, in a 119–114 win. His 56 points also set a Miami Heat franchise record for the most points scored in a playoff game, surpassing LeBron James's previous record of 49. In game 5, Butler recorded 42 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 128–126 overtime win, sealing a shocking upset over the Bucks, and leading the Heat to the second round of the playoffs. Butler also became the first player in Heat history to put up back-to-back 40-point playoff games. He also put up his eighth 40-point playoff game as a member of the Heat, surpassing Dwyane Wade's previous Heat franchise record of seven 40-point playoff games. In Games 4 and 5, Butler amassed a total of 98 points, becoming one of five players in NBA playoff history to produce that many points in a two-game span. He joined Michael Jordan (who accomplished the feat on three occasions), Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Rick Barry. Butler finished the series averaging 37.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.
In game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Butler recorded 35 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a playoff career-high six steals in a 123–116 win over the Boston Celtics. In game 7, Butler posted 28 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 103–84 win, defeating the Celtics and advancing to the NBA Finals. Butler was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, averaging 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game, narrowly edging out Caleb Martin.
In game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets, Butler put up 21 points and nine assists in a 111–108 win to tie the series at one each. He joined LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as the only players in Heat history to put up at least 500 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in a single postseason run. However, the Heat went on to lose the next three games of the series, dropping the finals in five games.
On November 16, 2023, Butler scored 36 points in a 122–115 win over the Brooklyn Nets, to lead the Heat to their first seven-game win streak since January 14, 2018. On December 16, Butler put up 28 points alongside a buzzer-beating, game-winning step back jumper in a 118–116 win over the Chicago Bulls. On February 7, 2024, Butler recorded his 16th career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals in a 116–104 win over the San Antonio Spurs. On March 2, Butler scored a season-high 37 points on 12-of-19 shooting, 3-of-3 from three and 10-of-11 from the free throw line in a 126–120 win over the Utah Jazz. Butler missed the 2024 NBA playoffs following a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain he sustained during a play-in game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
On January 3, 2025, the Heat suspended Butler for seven games, citing multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team throughout the season. The suspension followed reports of Butler's growing discontent and his statement the previous day that he no longer believed he could be happy playing in Miami. In an official statement, the Heat confirmed that Butler and his representative had requested a trade and announced their intention to consider offers. Butler returned to the Heat on January 17 in a game against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 18 points in a 133–113 loss. On January 22, he was again suspended by the Heat for two games due to a pattern of detrimental conduct. Butler had missed the team flight to Milwaukee earlier in the day to play against the Bucks. On January 27, the Heat suspended Butler for an indefinite period of time without pay after he walked out of practice before a game against the Magic. He left after learning that Haywood Highsmith would be replacing him in the starting lineup. The Heat said in their official statement that the suspension was to last at least five games, which would take it through the NBA's trade deadline on February 6.
On April 15, Butler made his play-in debut with the Warriors, recording a game-high 38 points along with seven rebounds and six assists in a 121–116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies to secure the seventh seed for the playoffs. On April 20, Butler, in his playoff debut with the Warriors, recorded 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in a 95–85 victory against the Houston Rockets. In game 7 of the first round, Butler contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as the Warriors eliminated the Rockets with a 103–89 road win to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. But they were then eliminated in five games by his former team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia
| 55 || 55 || 33.2 || .461 || .338 || .868 || 5.3 || 4.0 || 1.8 || .5 || 18.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 58 || 58 || 33.8 || .455 || .244 || .834 || 6.7 || 6.0 || 1.8 || .6 || 19.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 52 || 52 || 33.6 || .497 || .245 || .863 || 6.9 || 7.1 || style="background:#cfecec;"|2.1* || .3 || 21.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 57 || 57 || 33.9 || .480 || .233 || .870 || 5.9 || 5.5 || 1.6 || .5 || 21.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 64 || 64 || 33.4 || .539 || .350 || .850 || 5.9 || 5.3 || 1.8 || .3 || 22.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 60 || 60 || 34.0 || .499 || .414 || .858 || 5.3 || 5.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 20.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2|
| style="text-align:left;"|Miami
| 25 || 25 || 30.6 || .540 || .361 || .801 || 5.2 || 4.8 || 1.1 || .4 || 17.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Golden State
| 30 || 30 || 32.7 || .476 || .279 || .870 || 5.5 || 5.9 || 1.7 || .3 || 17.9
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 869 || 764 || 33.1 || .472 || .328 || .843 || 5.3 || 4.3 || 1.6 || .4 || 18.3
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star
| 4 || 1 || 12.7 || .750 || .000 || || 1.8 || 1.5 || 1.8 || .0 || 4.5
In the NBA Bubble, Butler opened Big Face Coffee, a side business which he operated out of his hotel room using his French press coffee brewer, charging $20 per cup. A year later, he officially launched his coffee brand, and planned to dedicate his time into the coffee roastery business post-retirement.
During the 2023 NBA playoffs, Butler filed a trademark on the name "Himmy Butler" for the purpose of launching his own clothing and beverage brand. The nickname "Himmy" came from the Internet meme "he's him", which rose in popularity during the Heat's Butler-led run during that postseason.
Butler is featured in the Netflix documentary series, Starting 5, which followed Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum through the 2023–24 NBA season and playoffs.
Butler and his former girlfriend have three children. He did not make his Heat debut until the fourth game of the 2019–20 NBA season, as he was on paternity leave after the birth of his first child. Butler's father died on February 8, 2024. Butler is a Christians.
He is good friends with Mark Wahlberg, whom he met while Wahlberg was filming in Chicago. The two have vacationed in Paris together.
Butler became a fan of soccer during the 2016 Summer Olympics, after watching Neymar Jr. play for Brazil. He has rooted for Paris Saint Germain and said his favorite player is Neymar.
College career
Professional career
Chicago Bulls (2011–2017)
2011–2014: early years and first All-Defensive selection
2014–2016: Most Improved Player and first All-Star selections
2016–2017: first All-NBA selection
Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–2018)
Philadelphia 76ers (2018–2019)
Miami Heat (2019–2025)
2019–2021: first finals appearance and steals leader
2021–2022: best Eastern Conference record
2022–2024: second finals appearance
2024–2025: requesting a trade and suspension
Golden State Warriors (2025–present)
Career statistics
NBA
Regular season
Playoffs
College
Off the court
Personal life
See also
External links
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