Jimmy Butler Credit: Wes Goldberg on X
By Brendon Kleen on

Jimmy Butler has been around the NBA long enough to know the rhythms and patterns of NBA media day, so for the past two years, the reigning Eastern Conference Finals MVP has set fire to the whole affair.

On Monday, he let out his inner early 2000s emo rock kid flush with the haircut and faux piercing studs.

“I’m emo,” he announced upon arrival.

NBA Twitter (or X now, sure), being the jokesters they are, couldn’t help themselves but concoct the best nicknames possible.

Ball Out Boy has to be the best, but there was no shortage.

It would seem Butler has moved on from the Heat’s failed pursuit of Damian Lillard and wanted to bring some levity to the media circus this year.

But last year, Butler had an even greater plan.

Butler came in with dreadlock extensions, understanding a secret that only an NBA veteran (or Aaron Rodgers) would know: the photo taken on media day is the one used during pregame lineup intros, broadcast graphics, and more all season long.

“It’s still up to debate whether I’m going to keep my hair like this or not,” he said last year.

 

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Butler is trolling the whole NBA world with these goofs. NBA media has to determine the best photo of a bunch of questionable options. And his teammates have to figure out how seriously to take the notoriously stern Butler.

He told teammates Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro on Monday that media day is his Halloween.

https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1708874250336018522

It remains to be seen how NBA broadcasters and arenas handle Butler’s latest do.

But basketball fans ate it up.

[Wes Goldberg on X]

About Brendon Kleen

Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.

View all posts by Brendon Kleen