Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler is an avid soccer fan who sometimes spends time with the sports’ greatest players. In October of last year, he became an investor in the San Diego Wave FC of the NWSL, joining the club’s roster of famous current and former athletes as a minority owner.
At the team’s headquarters in San Diego on Sunday, Butler met with legendary U.S. women’s soccer player Alex Morgan, also a minority owner. The former NBA All-Star was awestruck, repeatedly pointing at Morgan while she talked with team officials.
Fans reacted to Butler’s antics. One fan wrote:
“You only do this if you know ur more famous. He not slick.”
Another fan added:
“That’s all Jimmy is good for these days. Doesn’t play much basketball.”
One more fan continued:
“Jimmy lucky he tall and got money.”
Another fan commented:
“Went full fanboy the moment Alex Morgan walked in. This is the most human he has ever looked.”
One fan tweeted:
“Butler, a superstar in his own right, completely starstruck by Alex Morgan.”
Jimmy Butler sometimes chills out with Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Paul Pogba and some of soccer’s biggest and hottest names. In his interactions with them, he has not appeared as awestruck as he did when in front of Alex Morgan.
Morgan is a San Diego Wave FC legend. She won the Golden Boot in her first season with the team in 2022 after scoring 15 goals. With her leading the side, San Diego became the expansion club to make the playoffs, losing only to eventual champion Portland Thorns in the semifinals.
Jimmy Butler is well aware that Alex Morgan is also a legend in international women’s soccer. She was part of the U.S. women’s national team that won the gold medal in the FIFA World Cup in 2015 and 2019. Morgan also led her country to a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
Butler couldn’t hold back his excitement at seeing Morgan, prompting fans to give their candid reactions.
Jimmy Butler Wears No. 10 in Golden State To Honor Soccer Legends
After six seasons with the Miami Heat wearing No. 22, many expected Jimmy Butler to keep the same number when he was traded to the Golden State Warriors in February 2025. Instead, the six-time All-Star picked No. 10 to play alongside two-time MVP Steph Curry.
Yahoo! Sports reported in June 2025 the reason Butler wears No. 10:
“Butler, who was traded to Golden State in early February, wore jersey No. 10 with the Warriors in an ode to some of the greatest soccer players ever, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Ronaldinho Gaucho.”
Alex Morgan made No. 13 famous while wearing it for the USWNT, Portland Thorns, Orlando Pride, Tottenham Hotspur and San Diego Wave. The Wave retired her jersey number in September last year.
If Jimmy Butler switches to No. 13, it wouldn’t be tough to figure out the reason behind it.
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