Jimmy Butler: The NBA star abandoned at 13

Left with nothing but a backpack

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

At just 13 years old, Jimmy Butler was kicked out of his mother’s house in Tomball, Texas. With no father present, he slept at friends’ houses and gyms. With info sourced from ESPN, NBA, The Athletic and Basketball Reference, this is what happened next.

A high school star with no home

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

Despite his unstable situation, Butler averaged 19.9 points per game as a senior at Tomball High. Coaches admired his skill and resilience, unaware that he was hiding his homelessness.

A second chance with a scholarship

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

Butler won a scholarship to Marquette and developed steadily. In his junior and senior years, he averaged 15 points and over 6 rebounds per game.

Draft night

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

Butler was drafted 30th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2011. Ten players taken before him never made an All-Star team. Butler would eventually earn six selections.

A slow start

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

In his first two NBA seasons, Butler averaged under 6 points per game. But he was relentless in the gym, gaining respect for his defence and work ethic.

Breakout and All-Star status

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

By the 2014–15 season, Butler averaged 20 points and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He became the Bulls’ franchise cornerstone, after Derrick Rose was injured.

Shining in a number of teams

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

Butler played for four franchises in four years: Chicago, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Miami. Each time, he brought leadership, defence, and playoff toughness to underdog squads.

The Heat years

Left with nothing but a backpack, A high school star with no home, A second chance with a scholarship, Draft night, A slow start, Breakout and All-Star status, Shining in a number of teams, The Heat years

He was with the Heat for five seasons, averaging 21 points and leading the team to two NBA Finals. But his final season in Miami was marked by tensions, with Butler suspended multiple times for detrimental conduct. In 2025, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors and has since signed a two-year contract with them.

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