We might be in the middle of the NBA season, but that won’t stop Jimmy Butler from completing side quests.
The Heat star is one of the fiercest competitors in basketball, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously off the court. Case in point: Miami’s media day to open the 2023-24 season. The team was coming off an NBA Finals loss, but Butler showed up for his headshot and preseason interviews with an “emo” hairstyle, face piercings and makeup.
Butler played into the bit, wearing an all-black trench coat while playing Fall Out Boy’s hit song “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” on his phone speaker as he entered the Heat facility.
Butler’s “emo” headshot has stuck with NBA fans throughout the season, even though the six-time All-Star got rid of the hairstyle before playing in a single game.
Just when you thought “Emo Jimmy” might be gone for good, he popped back up when you least expected it.
Fall Out Boy released a music video Wednesday for their new single, “So Much (For) Stardust,” featuring none other than … Jimmy Butler.
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Jimmy Butler stars in Fall Out Boy’s “So Much (For) Stardust” music video
Fall Out Boy revealed the Heat star’s music video appearance on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The band posted a snippet of the music video to announce Butler’s appearance, calling him “Heat Wentz” in a nod to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz.
Fall Out Boy followed up with an additional post, joking that they were going to change their name to “ball out boy” with a gif of “Emo Jimmy” from Heat media day.
nbd just changing our name to ball out boy https://t.co/kXENU7hFmD@jimmybutler pic.twitter.com/pVHRm0o42L
— Fall Out Boy (@falloutboy) February 28, 2024
Butler is rocking a hilarious purple cowboy outfit with his “emo” haircut throughout the music video, dancing and lip-syncing Fall Out Boy’s new track.
You can find the full music video below.
Why Jimmy Butler wore “emo” look at Heat media day
Butler opened his press conference ahead of the 2023-24 season with a simple statement: “I’m emo. Leave me alone.”
When asked about his look, Butler said: “This is my emotional state. I’m one with my emotions, so this is what you get.”
Buzz at the time suggested Butler might be upset that the Heat couldn’t land a trade for superstar guard Damian Lillard. Lillard was sent from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks just before the season started, and Butler’s “emo” look coincided with that outcome.
That marked Butler’s second consecutive year in which he shocked the masses with a new hairstyle for media day. Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Butler was rocking long dreadlock extensions for his headshot, earning the nickname “Dreadlock Jimmy.”
Just as he did in 2023, Butler got rid of that hairstyle before the regular season tipped off. But his joke still forced the NBA to use his headshot all season long.