One of the perks of being a professional athlete and earning millions of dollars, you would think, is suddenly having the ability to purchase expensive luxury items, such as top-flight sports cars. That possibility is amplified considerably if you're in the salary range that Jimmy Butler, the Minnesota Timberwolves forward, after signing a five-year contract worth $95 million back in 2015. And, just to make sure this gets said off the top, he does own more than one whip that would make your average car enthusiast salivate. However, a recent interview with Sports Illustrated revealed that the vehicle he loves driving most of all is a rather strange choice: an aging Toyota minivan.
This piece of information was told to Lee Jenkins, who was behind Butler's SI story. According to Butler, he definitely feels more comfortable in the soccer mom ride than any other car he owns, including his Rolls-Royce and Cadillac Escalade. To make the mental image even more incongruous, Butler added that the the back windshield has a large "Baby on Board" sticker on it, despite the fact that he has no kids of his own, nor does he have a girlfriend who already had a child or two. According to Jenkins, part of the interview for SI was conducted on board a private jet, so there's no questioning Butler's ability to enjoy the finer ways of traveling. But still...
"You own a Rolls-Royce and an Escalade!" exclaimed Mike Smith, Butler’s training partner, in the middle portion of the write-up. "Why do we always have to take this big-ass soccer mom car and listen to Garth Brooks?" Indeed, Butler is often heard blasting country music instead of obsessing over things like his NBA 2K player rating. Further to that, there was a point earlier this year when Butler didn't turn on his TV for more than two months. Even when he was relegated (can you even say that?) to his Rolls-Royce while he was training out in San Diego, he admitted to pining for his minivan during that time. "I miss it," he said. "Unfortunately, we have to use this thing just a little longer."
Would you ever drive a minivan instead of a Rolls? Let us know below.
