Jimmy Butler wasn’t born with the silver spoon, but he has surely made a long way from there to establishing himself as one of the best players in the league. His stellar performances have earned ‘Buckets’ wide fame and popularity among fans.
However, not many NBA fans are aware of Jimmy Butler’s business acumen. From starting a $20 dollar side venture to establishing his own brand, the six-time all-star has made significant entrepreneurial moves over the years.
Jimmy Butler’s $20 coffee gig turned into successful brand
Jimmy Butler who had a rough and poor family history started a coffee business “BigFace Brand” with just $20. Jimmy Butler came up with the idea for BigFace Brand in his hotel room at Disney World’s bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. This idea came to fruition as he successfully launched his own brand.
Jimmy Butler really liked coffee and brought his own coffee equipment to the bubble because he knew there wouldn’t be good coffee available. When coffee brands found out, they sent him a special coffee. He sold a cup of it for $20 to his fellow basketball players, league personnel, and even journalists.
After seeing that people enjoyed his coffee, Jimmy Butler decided to turn this small coffee side business into a real brand called BigFace. They sell special types of coffee and coffee-related products. They recently opened a coffee shop at a tennis tournament.
He dreams of maximizing his brand and someday selling a cup for $100, but he also wants everyone to enjoy good coffee. Butler said “Specialty coffee is real, and a $100 cup is coming soon. Someday I’ll have all the coffee knowledge on why it’s worth it.” Jimmy Butler is really serious about making high-quality coffee.
Butler’s homeless teenage days
At the tender age of 13, Butler was abandoned by his mother after his father left. His mother’s last word to him before she kicked him out of their family home was, “I don’t like the look of you. You gotta go.”
As a teenager, Jimmy Butler didn’t have a place to live and moved around a lot. However, during his senior year of high school, he became friends with Jordan Leslie at a basketball camp. Leslie’s mom, Michelle Lambert, took Jimmy in, even when she already had seven children.
She made rules for everyone including curfew after late evening and mandatory good grades in school. According to what Lambert told ESPN, she said “I told him my kids looked up to him. He had to stay out of trouble. Work hard in school. He had to set an example.
“And you know what? Jimmy did it. Anything I asked him to do, he did it without asking questions.”, said Michelle Lambert fondly remembering Jimmy’s younger days.
Butler is forever grateful to Lambert, whom he now calls his mother, for giving him a chance. Butler said, “They accepted me into their family. And it wasn’t because of basketball. She was just very loving. She just did stuff like that. I couldn’t believe it.”
This act of kindness and support provided Butler with the stability he needed to pursue his passion for basketball, ultimately leading him to become an NBA superstar.
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