Jimmy Butler went to the 2016 Olympics with one obsession and came back with another. The night before helping Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Team USA conquer the 500-gram, laurel-leafed gold medals on which he’d been fixated, he went to watch men’s football decider at the Maracana. Jimmy ‘Buckets’ was transfixed watching Neymar and Brazil overcome Germany.
He’s remained so ever since. So, when it was announced USA would host the first FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, Butler was buzzing. Naturally, the Golden State Warrior small forward and six-time NBA All-Star is attending matches in California and hoping to see his beloved Paris Saint-Germain make it five trophies from five this season.
“I think the tournament is amazing,” the 35-year-old told FIFA. “I love PSG, as I’m sure the world knows, so I’m glad that I’m able to be here and support. It’s big for the United States, it’s big for L.A.. I’m happy to be here and support.
“You have to see it [at the stadium]. I know we get to watch it on the internet, we get to watch it on TV, but it’s so much different in person.
“You get to come here and watch some high-level football being played. I’m just excited to see who ends up on top, but I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be PSG.
“I’m super excited. I think football, soccer here in this county, is on the way up. All the best players are coming here to build their brands and show their faces. It’s just going to give our youth another thing, another goal, another dream to reach for.
“I love it. As everybody knows, it’s definitely my favourite sport, I’m just not that good at it. But for the youth, for football here in America, this is huge.”
