Tennis sensation Coco Gauff and NBA star Jimmy Butler have forged an unexpected yet close friendship, built on their shared competitive spirits and mutual admiration for each other’s determination and resilience in their respective sports. Their connection began in early 2023, and over the months, they’ve become a unique support system for one another, bridging the worlds of tennis and basketball.
It all started at the Miami Open in March 2023, where Gauff, a rising star in the tennis world, was thrilled to learn that Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was watching her match from the stands. As Gauff revealed to the Women’s Tennis Association, seeing Butler, one of her sports idols, actually made her a bit nervous. “I have a lot of my family in the crowd and over there. Even Jimmy Butler [was] here, so I was a little bit nervous when I saw him,” Gauff admitted. Nevertheless, she kept her composure and won the match. Afterward, the two met, exchanged pleasantries, took selfies, and even shared a few laughs. Gauff commemorated the meeting on social media with a playful post on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “[B]ringin out my inner jimmy buckets mentality yesterday,” in a nod to Butler’s nickname, “Jimmy Buckets.”
Their encounter in Miami was just the beginning of a friendship that would soon transcend the court and the court-side seats. They quickly began following each other on social media and kept in regular contact. Butler, ever the competitor, didn’t just watch from afar; he actively encouraged Gauff to keep pushing her limits. In fact, just a few weeks after their first meeting, Butler invited Gauff to come to a Miami Heat playoff game, telling her that if the Heat made the NBA Finals, he would make sure she had tickets. Unfortunately, Gauff’s schedule prevented her from attending a game, but Butler’s confidence and self-assurance seemed to stick with her, serving as inspiration for Gauff when she needed it most.
By May 2023, Gauff was in the thick of the French Open, facing tough competition in Paris. During her first-round match, she lost the first set and found herself fighting to stay in the game. Rather than panicking, she recalled Butler’s attitude during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Butler and the Heat had been up 3-0 against the Boston Celtics but then lost three straight games, forcing a Game 7. Despite the setbacks, Butler remained calm and confident, ultimately leading his team to victory. Inspired by Butler’s resilience, Gauff thought to herself, “If Jimmy Butler didn’t freak out when they were up 3–0 and then all of a sudden it was 3-all, then I shouldn’t freak out from losing the first set.” This mindset helped her turn the match around, and she went on to have a strong showing at the tournament.
Butler’s encouragement continued throughout the year, and when Gauff competed in the U.S. Open later in 2023, he became one of her most enthusiastic supporters. “I want her to win every single time,” Butler told ESPNW while attending one of Gauff’s matches in August. He became a regular in her player’s box, cheering her on, and his presence clearly made an impact. “I learned a lot watching him, everybody counting him out,” Gauff said in an interview with *The New York Post*. She credited her mental shift in part to Butler’s example, explaining, “It was really just the mental thing. That’s what I learned from watching Jimmy compete.”
As the U.S. Open continued, Gauff made headlines not just for her impressive play but also for her famous supporters, which included both Butler and pop star Justin Bieber. Gauff admitted she was “starstruck” seeing Bieber in the stands, but she felt comforted by Butler’s familiar presence. “Jimmy Butler, he’s come to a couple of my matches. I wasn’t as surprised he was there,” she said. Butler even got involved beyond cheering from the stands; he participated in an exhibition event during the tournament, acting as an honorary ball boy. At one point, he even engaged in a playful rally with top-ranked men’s player Carlos Alcaraz, who humorously took it easy on Butler.
Interestingly, the inspiration between Gauff and Butler wasn’t one-sided. Butler was equally motivated by Gauff’s tenacity on the tennis court, something he wanted to instill in his young daughter. “I’m now teaching my daughter to hit a tennis ball, which is very important in my household. I’m teaching her to compete and never accept losing,” he shared in an interview with *Rolling Stone* in October 2023. Watching Gauff pursue her goals with such discipline and mental strength evidently made an impression on Butler, as he aimed to pass on those values to his family.
Even when Butler wasn’t able to be there in person, he found ways to cheer her on from a distance. In January 2024, while Gauff was competing in the Australian Open, Butler was back in Miami. But that didn’t stop him from tuning in: he posted a photo to his Instagram Stories showing himself watching her match on his phone over dinner in South Beach. This gesture demonstrated the genuine support and connection he has for Gauff, even across continents.
As their friendship continues to grow, Gauff and Butler have found more than just camaraderie in each other—they’ve discovered a source of motivation and mutual respect that spans beyond the boundaries of their sports. Gauff’s admiration for Butler’s resilience and mental toughness has clearly played a role in her own development as an athlete, helping her navigate high-stakes moments on the court. Meanwhile, Butler’s newfound love for tennis and desire to instill the sport’s values in his daughter speak to the profound impact Gauff has had on him as well.
Both athletes have also become known for their strong mental games and a refusal to give up in the face of adversity. Through their unlikely friendship, they’ve demonstrated that the lessons of one sport can inspire and uplift someone competing in another. As Gauff continues her rise in the world of tennis and Butler leads the Heat on the basketball court, their story reminds us that sports’ true power lies in the connections it fosters and the resilience it instills.