Jimmy Butler may be one of the most unconventional stars in the NBA. His journey even started with an unusual path, as he had to overcome homelessness and couldn't get a scholarship offer from a Division I program coming out of high school.
The Texas native spent his freshman season with Tyler Junior College. An impressive campaign caught the attention of some Division I schools' attention, and he accepted a scholarship to play for Marquette University under then-coach Buzz Williams. It appears Butler still hadn't gotten enough resources then, as he had to submit his National Letter of Intent through a McDonald's store.
"Jimmy faxed his [National Letter of Intent] in from McDonald's," Williams said . "That's the truth. Jimmy never took an official visit to Marquette. That's the truth. Jimmy arrived at Marquette the day of the first day of classes."
Butler's humble beginnings
The Miami Heat star's rough childhood and thorny road to glory has already been well-documented. Growing up without a father, his mother kicked him out of their house at 13 years old, telling him, "I don't like the look of you. You gotta go."
After crashing the homes of various friends, basketball became his way of escaping reality. During his senior year at Tomball High School, Butler met a schoolmate through the sport and found a family who accepted him to their home.
Despite playing outstanding high school hoops, he wasn't heavily recruited, so he stayed in-state and enrolled in Tyler JC.
Butler's golden opportunity with the Golden Eagles
Fortunately for "Jimmy Buckets," Marquette recruited him because, in hindsight, it was the perfect partnership. While he didn't play that much in his first campaign as a Golden Eagle, Butler eventually evolved into a starting-caliber player and developed a father-son relationship with Williams.
Butler's senior season saw him average 15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, showcasing his potential to be a defensive juggernaut. Several NBA teams also displayed interest in him before the 2011 draft, but the Chicago Bulls picked him up with the No. 30 pick.
Over the next few years, the star swingman remained an underdog before finally getting some recognition across the league. From a homeless guy just trying to get by, Jimmy eventually became one of the best players of his generation and a renowned playoff riser.
Perhaps the only thing missing on his resume is a championship. Impressively, he was a few wins away from winning a ring twice. In 2020, he led the Heat to the Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4-2. Last year, Miami booked another trip to the championship round but got handily beaten by the Denver Nuggets.
Butler's title window is closing fast, as he will turn 35 in September. But with or without a ring, he is already undoubtedly a successful player and an inspiration to countless people.
Related: Joakim Noah reflects on Jimmy Butler's meteoric rise: "Everything that he has right now came from work"
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