Asked on Tuesday to look ahead to his future and predict how he’ll be performing at age 35, Sixers swingman Jimmy Butler provided a somewhat surprising response. As Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer details, Butler told reporters that he doesn’t expect to still be active in the NBA at that point.
“I don’t plan on playing this game when I’m 35 years old,” Butler said. “So I’m not even worried about that. I’ll be done with this game before I’m 35.”
Butler turned 29 years old in September, so if he truly expects to be out of the league before he turns 35, that would mean no more than five additional seasons after 2018/19. In other words, the deal he signs this summer could be his last NBA contract — the Sixers will be eligible to offer him five years, while he could get four years from any other club. Still, Butler didn’t offer any further clues on when he imagines himself retiring.
“That’s between me and whatever I tell myself later on,” Butler said. “But, I’m telling you right now, 35, I’m trying to be done before then.”
It has become increasingly rare for NBA players to retire before age 35 as long as they’re still capable of contributing on the court. David West, Richard Jefferson, and Nick Collison had finished their age-37 seasons when they announced their respective retirements this offseason. Dwyane Wade, who is in his final season, will turn 37 later this month. Manu Ginobili was 41 when he retired this summer, and longtime stars like Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki remain active into their 40s.
Still, while Butler didn’t make his NBA debut until he was 22 years old, he has battled some health issues throughout his career and has logged a ton of minutes when he’s healthy, including leading the league in minutes per game in 2014/15.
It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility to envision Butler retiring five years from now, but it will be interesting to see whether his frame of mind changes at all if he continues to perform at an All-Star level for the next few seasons.
Trust the processed cheese.
You know what this is very arrogant. Most guys would say I hope to play until I’m 35 or I’m I’m sure blessed to be in this league hopefully till 35 or something like that. He’s like, oh I’ll be done when I’m 35 like it’s his call. Like the article says he’s already had some injuries. How about being grateful to play till your 35.
Okay I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning….
Yeah, you did.
It was more flippant than arrogant but yeah, close. I think he’s thinking he plans to play like there’s no tomorrow and 35 is like an old person’s age.
It’s always short-sighted when players say things like that. David West should not have retired.
It’s absolutely his call and how could it be arrogant to retire early? Arrogance would be acting like you’re still gonna be at the same level of play at 35
His life
If I made as much $ as these guys I’d retire at 35. Unless my team was trying for a 3 peat or something. Why risk your health
Because you love to ball no matter what
Because you love the game and feel you can still go. Look at HOf Vince Carter he in his 40s and still going strong
People keep paying Vince to play at a premium. 8M from the Kings last year.
Risk your health lol.. The worst possible injury you can get on the court would not be life threatening. This is not football
Walking without a limp at 70 is overrated.
That just confirms what most already suspected. He is only playing for money. He doesn’t have the passion or love for the game…
It’s the complete opposite lol
That literally makes no sense. If he was only playing for money then why would he retire early?
Butler has proven time after time how big of a spoiled clown he is.
Good riddance. He could leave the game next year. Then we won’t have to hear him anymore spouting his mouth off.
If you love the game you play till your body tell you no or you don’t want to push to deal with the grind of the long season
KD and Kyrie both said same thing.
Just like Joseph Stalin, Jimmy Butler too has a 5 year Economic Plan.
5 years 190M.
Wether he retires or not before 35 is up to him and honestly who cares. What is more interesting, is that, this could be the first signal that he has no intention of resigning with Philly. Sure the Sixers can offer more money, but a market like LA can easily compensate lost salary revenue with other opportunities. I’m betting that he signs with the clippers on a 4 year deal. And that would suck for Philly and would make his aquisition an extremely bad and expensive trade unless they win the title this season. And that doesn’t look like it is going to happen, don’t see the Sixers beating golden state in a best of seven.
My Hero! Give someone else a Chance!
Guys you make too much of what this players say, they get tired during the season & just fantasize about a normal life, it doesn’t mean he will do it. I will always remember Shaq he said you wouldn’t see him playing past 32… he played until around 40, so wait until it happens then talk about it, right now is a rumor not a news.
It’s not a rumor, it was a direct statement made by Butler, straight from the horses mouth, cannot be more direct than that