Jimmy Butler is one of the finest forwards in the NBA today. With 6 NBA All-Star appearances, the 6’7 athlete is doing wonders with his current team, Miami Heat. However, Butler, the NBA player known for his ferocious competition in the game, has just embarked on an unexpected adventure. And that one extends well beyond the basketball court.
He recently spoke with Rolling Stone about his experiences with his developing position as a father. He also spoke about the lesson he taught his daughter, inspired by Coco Gauff’s US Open victory.
Butler shares the teachings he imparted to his daughter
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While Butler’s basketball career has been legendary, his most recent endeavor entails honing his “dad skills.” The NBA great has embraced parenthood wholeheartedly and is loving every minute of it. He said, “But the best thing is I’ve been able to grow my dad skills. I’m getting pretty good at being a dad”. Finding happiness in the simplest of times is one delight of parenthood. Butler defines that as preparing oatmeal with a creative flair.
“I’m getting good at making oatmeal. I can mix some fruit and stuff in there,” he proudly stated. These little, ordinary acts leave a lasting impression on both the parent and the kid. Butler’s desire to be a hands-on father is evident in his interactions with his daughter. He’s teaching more than just basketball skills, he’s teaching her crucial life lessons as well. And during the Rolling Stone interview, they asked him, “What dad skills have you learned?”
Butler was very inspired by Coco Gauff?s triumph at the US Open. And because of that, he imparted some valuable lessons to his daughter. He said, “I?m now teaching my daughter to hit a tennis ball, which is very important in my household. I?m teaching her to compete and?never?accept losing.”
He further added by saying, “I got to take my babies to Legoland, and they were going absolutely nuts. And the fans there were going more nuts. My daughter doesn?t know I?m quote-unquote ?famous,? she just doesn?t like when I take pictures with strangers. She?s like, ?Don?t talk to strangers!? And I?m like, ?That?s good, that?s exactly what I tell you.??
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How did Butler inspire Coco Gauff?
Coco Gauff endured a devastating setback in the first round of Wimbledon two months ago, putting her at a low moment in her young tennis career. Fast forward to the US Open, and she’s riding high after defeating No. 1 Iga Witek in the 2023 Cincinnati Masters final. Gauff shared her insight, stating, “That switch I had in the last couple of weeks, people think some incredible thing happened. But realistically, the two weeks between Wimbledon and the next tournament I played, nothing could have really changed that much. It was really just the mental thing. I think that?s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete over the years.”
Jimmy Butler, known for his relentless competitiveness, experienced Gauff’s win personally when she defeated Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the US Open. They spotted the Heat star showing his support for the Florida native, who is also from Florida. Butler has established himself as one of basketball’s most ferocious competitors, having led two underdog Heat teams to the NBA Finals in the previous four years. Gauff is set to employ the same kind of commitment in her tennis career, finding inspiration from his unwavering character.
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