Wild rumor that Jimmy Butler's father is Michael Jordan debunked as fans bring up DNA test
Sarah Rodriguez
Updated on March 24, 2026
NBA fans are once again discussing wild rumors about Michael Jordan allegedly being Miami Heats star Jimmy Butler’s father.
Jimmy Butler recently stole the show at the US Open’s “Stars of the Open” event. The Heat star got to work on the court during the match between world Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe, and was decked out in full ball boy gear. There’s been a long-standing rumor Jimmy Butler is related to Michael Jordan. Here, we explore the 33-year-old NBA star’s real parentage.
A look at Jimmy Butler’s parents and childhood
Jimmy Butler III, 33, was born on September 14, 1989, in Houston. His parents are Jimmy Butler II and Londa Butler.
The Miami Heat star’s father abandoned him and his mother when Jimmy was still a baby. Londa raised him as a single mother suburb of Tomball, Texas.
Jimmy’s childhood was laced with difficulties. His journey to the NBA has not been an easy one by any means. At just age 13, Jimmy’s mother Londa kicked him to the curb. “I don’t like the look of you. You gotta go,” she said, the basketball star previously recalled to ESPN in 2011.
Jimmy had no place to live and no money in his pocket. He began staying with friends as long as he could. However, he found a home with the Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Leslie, who was an up-and-coming football player at the time.
Jordan’s mother Michelle Lambert had four kids from her late husband and her new husband had three children of his own. The family finally decided to let Jimmy stay.
Michelle let Jimmy stay under the promise that he would be a role model for her kids. With a home to stay in and a family to support him, Jimmy began focusing hard on his basketball dreams.
“They accepted me into their family,” Butler said. “And it wasn’t because of basketball. She was just very loving. She just did stuff like that. I couldn’t believe it,” he said in an old interview with ESPN.
Michael Jordan is not Jimmy Butler’s father
Given we have already established that the NBA star’s father is Jimmy Butler II, it’s safe to say that rumors suggesting Michael is Jimmy’s dad are all false.
Although it is true that many young NBA players look up to the basketball Hall Of Famer as a father figure, that’s the extent of it. Jimmy has no real paternal connections with the former Chicago Bulls player.
Talking about his real parents and his difficult childhood, Jimmy has revealed that he holds no grudges against his parents whatsoever.
The NBA star still has a functional relationship with his parents. He is still in touch with both his parents.
“I don’t hold grudges. I still talk to my family. My mom. My father. We love each other. That’s never going to change,” he told ESPN in 2015 (per Sportskeeda).
Fans want a DNA test of Jimmy and Michael
Jimmy recently became the fifth player in NBA history with more than one career 30-point, five-rebound, five-assists, five-steal playoff game. With this feat, the star joined the likes of Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Rick Brry, and Russell Westbrook who all did the same.
After his latest achievement, fans are once again asking to see a DNA test of Jimmy and Michael.
“For the people we need Michael Jordan and Jimmy Butler to do a DNA test.
“I need a Jimmy Butler and Michael Jordan DNA test ASAP,” one fan wrote.
“Give Jimmy Butler and Michael Jordan a DNA test lol” said a second fan.
“Can you imagine the amount of “OMFG” that’ll get attached to Jimmy Butler if the DNA tests become public and he is indeed Michael Jordan’s son?,” a third fan speculated.
