Jimmy Butler Childhood: His Journey from a Homeless Child to NBA Star

Jimmy Butler is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the wake of playing one year of school basketball for Tyler Junior College, he moved to Marquette University. He was drafted with the 30th in overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Due to his sharpshooting and early exploits, he has been nicknamed “Jimmy Buckets.” He further solidified his nickname among the fans with his performances. Houston-born 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. Apart from these career highlights, he has also won an Olympic Gold with the senior basketball team. 

Before the 2011 draft, a general manager of NBA said about Butler, “His story is one of the most remarkable I’ve seen in all my years of basketball. There were so many times in his life where he was set up to fail. Every time, he overcame just enormous odds. When you talk to him—and he’s hesitant to talk about his life—you just have this feeling that this kid has greatness in him.”

His journey hasn’t been as easy as it seems. Jimmy Butler had a troubled childhood. Born in Houston, Texas, Jimmy and his family were abandoned by his father when he was an infant. He never knew his father growing up. It was tough growing up in the Houston suburb of Tomball. Jimmy was kicked out of the home by his mother at the age of 13. Imagine being told, “I don’t like the look of you. You gotta go.” at the age of 13. These were the final words of his mom to him before kicking him out of the house. 

For the next few years, Jimmy hopped around from one friend’s home to another and used to sleep on their couch. He continued this until he met Jordan Leslie, a freshman and a basketball player at the school. Jordan invited Jimmy for a three-point contest. Both became close friends, and Jimmy began staying at Leslie’s house. Jordan Leslie, a former American wide receiver, and his family took Jimmy in after a few months. Jimmy Butler, in an interview later, said:

“They accepted me into their family. And it wasn’t because of basketball. She [Michelle Lambert, Leslie’s mother] was just very loving. She just did stuff like that. I couldn’t believe it.”

Michelle Lambert supported Jimmy when he went away from Texas to Marquette University, Wisconsin, to play college basketball. However, Jimmy felt homesick away from home, but Michelle insisted on him staying. The advice paid off. Jimmy Butler was destroyed in the junior year and was declared for the NBA draft soon after. He was the last pick of the first round and was picked up by Chicago Bulls. 

Jimmy Butler’s story from a troubled childhood to a successful basketball career is an inspiring one. But Jimmy had never wanted pity, which goes back to before he was even drafted in the NBA. He said, “Don’t feel sorry for me.”