Jimmy Butler’s departure from Miami was anything but peaceful. Except for the 2 finals runs, he led the Heat to, he now has something else there to be happy about. Stuck in an Orlando hotel during the NBA’s 2020 bubble, Butler turned boredom into a business. Armed with an espresso machine, he became the bubble’s unofficial barista, charging a flat $20 per cup—no discounts, no exceptions. What started as a side hustle quickly evolved into Bigface, now a full-fledged coffee brand proving Butler’s grind goes far beyond basketball.
Four years after turning his hotel-room hustle into a full-blown brand, Butler took things to the next level. This past December, the Warriors forward brought Bigface to life with its first official storefront, setting up shop in Miami’s Design District. And now the Warriors are in Miami for their 6 game road trip.
On Sunday Butler introduced an employee discount for Warriors staff—dropping the price of his premium coffee to a still-ridiculous $30 as evident on his Instagram story. Classic Jimmy. I’d like to see the 6x All-Star ask for $30 from Draymond Green.
Feb 21, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) poses for a photo during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
If history is any indicator, he might want to watch out for freeloaders. Back in the 2020 NBA bubble, his first-ever customer, Goran Dragic, somehow managed to avoid paying altogether. Butler, who calls him brate (Slovenian for brother), still hasn’t forgotten.
“My first sale was, ‘I don’t have cash on me right now, but I’ll get it to you,’” Butler recalled. “He made that same excuse every time. So, technically, Goran owes me a lot of money for all the coffee he hustled me out of.”
Now, with Warriors players getting their discount, you have to wonder—will any of them try pulling a Dragic and rack up a tab without ever paying? Knowing Butler, he won’t let that slide.
But while Butler is keeping tabs on his coffee business, he’s brushing off the drama surrounding his return to Miami.
Jimmy Butler is focused on his new assignment
Jimmy Butler isn’t looking back. As he prepares for his return to Miami on Tuesday, the former Heat star, now with the Warriors, insists it’s just another game.
Golden State acquired Butler in early February after his rocky final stretch with the Heat, which included multiple team suspensions. Asked about his time in Miami after the Warriors’ 124-115 loss to Atlanta, Butler didn’t get sentimental. “We was alright,” he said. “We didn’t win nothing like we were supposed to. So, I don’t know, we made some cool runs. We had some fun. I think that’s all we did.”
That “fun” included leading Miami to two NBA Finals—one in 2020 during the bubble and another in 2023. Despite falling short both times, Butler became a beloved figure in Miami. But things unraveled this season, and the Heat ultimately moved on.
Feb 25, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) is congratulated by guard Stephen Curry (30) after a basket against the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Since the trade, it’s been a tale of two teams. Golden State has caught fire, winning 16 of 20 games, while Miami has gone into free fall, losing 17 of 21, including a brutal 10-game skid.
Butler, however, isn’t dwelling on any of it. “Yeah, I was traded, yada yada yada,” he said. “It didn’t end the way people wanted, yada yada yada. But that’s behind me now. I don’t pay attention to nothing except this squad’s trajectory.”
Miami fans might feel differently, but Butler? He’s already moved on.
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