In this episode of "On and Off the Court," Jimmy Butler III answers fan‑submitted questions about his personal life, career, and interests. He explains why he’d choose K‑9 as a deserted‑island companion, recounts early NBA doubts and the perseverance that kept him going, and shares his off‑court hobbies—soccer, singing, piano, cooking, and baking. Butler emphasizes the "never give up" mantra as the most valuable advice he’s received and describes how it shapes his identity as a player, a person, and a father. He reflects on the challenges of parenting, noting that the difficulty makes it rewarding. When asked about 1‑v‑1 match‑ups, he picks Neymar for soccer and Dwyane Wade for basketball, citing admiration and friendship. His favorite sports film is "Remember the Titans," and his top Heat memory is witnessing Bam Adebayo’s first All‑Star selection, which he says solidified Bam’s confidence and the team’s identity.
Chapters
Yo, this is Jimmy Butler III, and welcome to On and Off the Court. This is where I answer your questions about my life on and off the court. Who would I rather be on a deserted island with? Bam, Hero or K-9? I probably have to go with K-9 to tell you the truth. The reason I would put K-9, he doesn't say too much. And I know his survival instincts have gotta be off the charts being from Chicago. Milwaukee's Milwaukee, North Carolina's North Carolina. But I'm going with K-9. Plus Bam and T, I think, Y'all would get on my nerves. Is there a point in my basketball career where I thought that my career would be over? Not over, but not going on the projected path that I would want it to be on. And that was just my, my early years in the NBA when I didn't know if I was gonna become a really good player or not. I didn't play, I was behind some really good players at that point in time in my career, so I understand it. But I just wish that everything could go my way. Obviously kept working and I am where I am now, but I for sure had doubts. We won't sit here and say that I didn't. My hobbies outside of basketball. First and foremost, I think that I'm a football player. Not American football anymore. Now I believe that I'm a soccer player. I think that I can sing extremely well. I never know when this ride's gonna end. I'm learning I'm learning to play the piano day by day. I'm a cook. I can bake. That's good. You saw that, Del? The question is, what can I do? That's what I get stuck on. I gotta try to find things that I'm not good at or that I do not want to do. I'm a jack of all trades type. What's the best life advice that I've been given and how has it helped me in my life? I mean, it sounds so cliché, but the whole never give up thing is real. Because I don't think anybody's life's gonna go the way that they want it to go right then, right there. There's gonna be obstacles, hiccups, bumps in the road, whatever you wanna call 'em, but as long as you're sticking to it, keep going, in my mind, you're gonna end up being successful more times than not. And I just feel like that's who I am, that's what made me who I am as a player, as a human being, as a dad now, is Everything may not go my way and/or your way, but this whole never give up thing, I stick to that. What's my favorite part about being a dad? That it's so hard. And I don't think anything worth having is ever easy. Like, nobody knows what they're doing as a parent, and everybody's constantly guessing, and any and everybody raises their children different ways. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. I think that's the best part about it because I can only get better. The more that I read up on it, the more that I watch my friends and other family members with their children, I learn more and more and more. So the best part about it is actually how difficult it is. Who would I rather go 1v1 with in soccer? Neymar or Mbappé? Neymar. I mean, truthfully, I would say Neymar. I would say I would want to go up against the GOAT, the best. And I feel like he probably will beat me really, really bad, but because we have a friendship, I think he might actually let me score a goal. So I gotta take Ney. 1v1 basketball, Melo or D-Wade? I mean, it just all depends. Do I want to go against Melo right now and D-Wade right now, or both of them in their prime? Either way it goes, it's pretty tough. I'm gonna go with D-Wade. I'm gonna take D-Wade just because I've looked up to the guy for so long. The friendship that we built, along with Melo too. But, you know, we both went to Marquette. I don't know who's gonna win, but— Jimmy Butler III. Dwyane, I'm coming for you. What's my favorite sports movie? There's a lot of good ones, but if I had to narrow it down to one, I would say "Remember the Titans." I think that movie has some funny quotable lines that some of them probably shouldn't be as funny as I think that they are, but all in all, it's a classic. My favorite moment with the Heat thus far? Easily, without a doubt, was being able to be a part of Bam's first All-Star and seeing the look on his face and the smile on his face. But not only how happy it made him, that confidence that it gave him knowing that he belonged here. I've put my footprint or handprint, whatever print it was, on this game and in this league. Everybody knows my name, everybody knows Whenever you go up against the Miami Heat, you have to, you gotta be ready to go against Bam. And I think that's huge for him. He's always, and I've said it since the beginning of the year, he's always been like the leader, the engine, the heart and soul of our team, of our organization. And that's number one for me, being able to see him know like, I'm here, I'm here to stay.
