Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is in the midst of another fantastic season.
The six-time All-Star — who will very likely add yet another to his resumé when the 2023 NBA All-Star reserves are announced on Thursday — has his team in the thick of a competitive playoff race in the Eastern Conference.
Butler also recently starred in a new Super Bowl commercial celebrating golf for Michelob Ultra. Butler was featured alongside Serena Williams and other superstar athletes and entertainers enjoying their time at the fictional Bushwood Country Club from the cult classic film Caddyshack (1980).
After he spoke with For The Win when he was featured in an ad for Michelob Ultra before the Super Bowl last season, Butler hopped on another Zoom call with us once again this year.
He spoke about the commercial, his favorite sports, coffee, missing games due to injury and load management, his experience meeting a young fan, and his ongoing saga about his media day photo.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What were some of the highlights of filming this commercial alongside so many legends?
Jimmy Butler: I think it was great. It was a little different from last year but the theme was one and the same in that it is only worth it if you enjoy it. It’s light-hearted but there are so many fierce competitors in it that are great. You’re talking about Serena Williams, Nneka Ogwumike, Brian Cox, Tony Romo, Alex Morgan, Canelo Alvarez, and myself. Take me out of it. You talk about everybody else and how great they are? To see them having fun and smiling outside of their everyday element is so great. It’s so good to be around.
I don’t think anybody in this spot would say no if you asked them if they’re good at golf. There will only be an excuse. When you are a fierce competitor, you’ll say that on any given day it’s my day. You’ll say, “Oh, I haven’t golfed in years.” But I don’t think anybody would say they are a bad golfer. It really is only worth it if you enjoy it and I know that we all enjoyed that day on the golf course. Being around that group and having Michelob Ultra at the same time, I think it really makes that type of environment really fun. Being able to bring their brain and knowing I’m in the presence of greatness, I don’t think there is a better match.
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I loved your dancing in this commercial. Do you think it will turn into a meme?
Jimmy Butler: I’m actually willing to bet you that it will end up there somehow as a GIF. My thing is: The best part about is you can’t tell if I can’t dance or if I was doing it on purpose. So I’m going to run with that. If somebody asks if that was choreographed, I’m going to say that of course, it was. If somebody can ask if I can really dance, I’m going to say that of course, I can. But I wanted to look as bad as possible so people will be like: You know what? He can’t be good at everything. So maybe the one thing he can’t do is good. But I had so much fun. It was like a break from my real world. I got to show everybody that I can/cannot dance.
There are so many athletes in this commercial. What would your other sport be?
Jimmy Butler: A lot of people in my profession do play golf now and after their career. I’m not going to say that is the place for me.
When you’re talking about everybody in this spot, you have Serena. I love tennis. Tennis is probably my second-favorite sport, tied with basketball. Nneka Ogwumike plays basketball. Tony Romo is a footballer. My favorite sport of all sports is what Alex Morgan plays, which is what I call football now. Soccer. There are so many different ways to not play basketball. There is the pickleball craze coming into effect. Padel is a very real thing, too.
After I finish this basketball thing, I’m going to take my Michelob Ultra and I’m going to hit the tennis court or the pickleball court or the Padel court. I will hold that Michelob Ultra while I’m whooping whoever I’m whooping.
While we’re talking about beverages, what are your latest coffee updates?
Jimmy Butler: Coffee is booming right now. There are so many great collaborations for my coffee that are coming soon. Literally, as we’re talking on this call, they’re mixing up some type of concoction that we’re supposed to come out with soon. It’s difficult but nothing easy is worth having. I look forward to everything that coffee brings me in the future.
How would you describe your perfect cup of coffee?
Jimmy Butler: For me, I like a tea-like coffee that you can taste the fruit. I like something very, very light and it just changes throughout the different temperatures. The lighter, fruity, and floral are who I am as a coffee drinker. I think that’s who I am as a person, too. I’m just a sweetheart until you poke the bear and we’re competing. Other than that, I’m laid-back. I’m very, very chill. I’d like to think I’m a joy to be around.
What happened with the young Argentinian fan who wanted to see you play?
Felipe missed out on seeing his favorite player on the court after flying all the way from Argentina…
Today, he got to meet him instead 🙌🏼❤️ @JimmyButler pic.twitter.com/koR8JBxmMJ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 25, 2023
Jimmy Butler: It’s tough in my profession. You have to take care of your body. I went out there and warmed up and my back tightened up. I couldn’t do it. I hate missing games. I know that many different people want to see me play.
I wasn’t even in the building and I got notifications about Felipe and his sister, Zoe. They were devastated and it really hurt my heart. So the next day, I mustered up the amount of energy that I had and I got to meet them and walk around the arena and the locker room. We went to dinner and we did some stuff the next day as well.
He loves everything about sports. I am one of his idols and I was so, so, so fortunate to be able to pick his brain. I was just like him at one point in time. I was a kid who really wanted to be an NBA player. I think my life has changed for the better by spending time with them and I’m super excited that I got to meet them.
ESPN changed the photo that you used on media day. Do you have a response?
Jimmy Butler: I don’t think it’s right. I think I should be able to wear my hair however I want to wear my hair. You’re supposed to be using my media day picture. Put my hair back the way that it was because I love that hairdo on me. I’m going to change it because when I come back after the All-Star break, I’m going to have dreads and everybody is going to have to use that picture again.
