Few American athletes display the same fervor for tennis as Jimmy Butler does. Over recent years, Butler has forged strong connections with the sport, aligning himself with some of its brightest stars and offering unwavering support.

Throughout the 2023 tennis season, the Miami Heat luminary has professed his deep-seated affection for the game, from avidly following the French Open during his NBA Finals commitments to personally attending Wimbledon and US Open matches. His infatuation with tennis has reached new heights, as ‘Jimmy G Buckets’ humorously declared his readiness to embark on a professional tennis career and urged the ATP Tour to grant him the prestigious World No.1 ranking.

Among his favorites in the tennis world, Carlos Alcaraz holds a special place in Jimmy Butler’s heart. The 6ft 7′ forward has openly expressed his admiration for the Spanish sensation on multiple occasions.

Just a few months ago, the 2023 NBA Finalist journeyed 4,426 miles to witness Alcaraz’s quarterfinal clash at Wimbledon. More recently, Butler was fortunate to attend Alcaraz’s, Alexander Zverev’s, and Coco Gauff’s electrifying US Open matches.

Jimmy Butler recently shared a series of photos on Instagram, illustrating his tennis skills alongside Jermaine Thomas. In the accompanying caption, the Marquette alumnus directed a message to the ATP Tour, the governing body of men’s professional tennis.

While declaring his eagerness to kickstart his professional tennis journey, Butler also conveyed his aspiration to secure the coveted No.1 ranking in the world. However, it’s worth noting that among the many contenders, Novak Djokovic might not find such a proposition particularly amusing if the ATP were to entertain Jimmy’s request.