Jimmy Butler's sideline as a barista got started during the NBA Bubble, where he sold fresh-brewed coffee out of his hotel room. He could make you virtually any drink you wanted in three sizes—$20 cash, no matter what you ordered. Now he's the proud owner of an only-slightly more conventional operation, Bigface, which went online last week. If you're in the market for a $100,000 portable espresso “lab” or a combination tasting kit and NFT, Jimmy Buckets has you covered. 

Heat fans shouldn’t fret, though, as Butler says his main focus remains bringing an NBA title to South Florida. Coming off a Finals appearance in the Bubble, the Miami Heat never really got on track during the most recent shortened season and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. After a full offseason to rest and recharge, along with new roster additions, Butler is looking forward to helping the Heat get back atop the Eastern Conference hierarchy.

“I think with the talent we have on this team with Kyle [Lowry], Bam [Adebayo], PJ [Tucker], Markieff [Morris], Duncan [Robinson], Tyler [Herro]—and you can go down the line—I think I’m good enough to help us win a championship,” Butler said. “I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks anyway because I’m always going to bet on myself.”

GQ caught up with the five-time All-Star to discuss the origin of his love for coffee and wine, a no-frills diet that isn’t right without avocado, and the strength of his dominoes game. 

For Real-Life Diet, GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and everyone in between about their diet, exercise routines, and pursuit of wellness. Keep in mind that what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.

GQ: When did coffee become a thing for you? 

Jimmy Butler: I would say four years ago, when I was in London. I was going from coffee shop to coffee shop, meeting people that I would have never met if it weren’t for coffee. I’m just talking about the locals over there. Fútbol is king over there, so they had no idea who I was. They had an idea that I might have been someone because I’m a 6-foot-7 —but not really. Coffee just became a thing for me. When you’re a perfectionist and want to be the best at everything, I now want to make the best coffee and serve the best coffee. The Bubble came and Bigface was born, and the rest is history. We just launched and also partnered with Shopify. It’s been fun to see Bigface go from a Bubble idea to a real business.  

Butler in barista mode. 

Courtesy of Jimmy Butler

What do you love most about coffee?

The fact that you always have something in common with someone who drinks coffee. You just have to sit down and figure out what it is. If you’re in a coffee shop and you’re drinking, you have something in common with everyone else in there. It just got me to thinking, all the hate that people do around the world, why don’t you just sit down and figure out what the hell you got in common over a cup of coffee instead of stressing what you don’t have in common? I bet people would find out that there are more similarities than differences. 

The other part that I love is that it comes from all over the world. There are so many ways you can serve it—hot, cold, latte, Americano, cortado, put it on some ice cream: affogato. There’s so much that goes into making it, and so much to learn. Having coffee with people can lead to so much knowledge.

During the offseason, what types of food do you enjoy that you try and stay away from during the season?

I don’t really go ham like that in the offseason. We have this argument around here all the time: what’s the difference between a picky eater and a simple eater? I think I’m just a simple eater. I just want chicken, potatoes, and some type of green vegetable. I’m picky sometimes also but I don’t go out of my way to indulge on something like cereal-crusted French toast. If I eat French toast, I just want plain French toast. 

But whenever I’m overseas and in different countries, I go with the culture. I don’t eat red meat or pork. As long as it’s not any of that, I’m with it. I’ll eat damn near anything from under the sea if that’s what a place is known for because I want to learn as much as I can about different cultures. But I don’t go crazy and say let me go get five of these alcoholic beverages just because I don’t do it during the season. 

So, you live by a no-frills diet?

I’m telling you, if I could eat like a Chipotle-like meal every day—rice, chicken, beans, lettuce, avocado—I’m in. If you put some rice in a bowl, ground turkey, ground chicken, beans and avocado, then I’m good. Any type of wrap. I love salads with fruit and chicken it them. I can eat that every single day and not have a problem with it. It bothers me the way that [my trainer] James Scott eats cold oats every morning. I don’t understand how he does it but when I think about it, I’m doing the same thing with my meals in the morning and throughout the day. I think my chef always does a great job of mixing it up and making chicken and fish in different ways, all different types of rice, beans, vegetables. And: it has to have avocados, or I can’t eat it.

Most Popular

GQ RecommendsThese Gym Equipment Sales Will Help Your Crush Your ResolutionsBy Tyler Chin

GQ RecommendsThe Alex Mill Sale Just Went Double PlatinumBy Gerald Ortiz

GQ RecommendsThe Best Hair Gel for Men Is Spiking Our InterestBy Adrian Clark

After a short break from the Bubble to last season, how was it to get a full offseason to recharge?

It meant a lot, because I’m healthy now. I was banged up a lot of last season and at the end of last season. Honestly, it’s still no excuses. But I’m healthy now and my mind is right. I got to travel and beat everybody in dominoes, so I solidified being the best at that, which is a big deal, so I’m happy. I think the biggest thing is finding your happiness. You have to love what you do, and I do. You have to love the people you get the opportunity to be around, and I do. You also have to love the work and the grind, and I do. I’m ready to get this season underway. 

You’ve always been the guy not to make excuses, but how challenging was that quick turnaround?

Every part of it was challenging. There was really no time to let your body fully recover and more importantly, your mind. It was like you couldn’t relax and get away from the game because it was right back to it. It’s always good to get away. People say it all the time, “Too much of any good thing is a bad thing.” Or: “The same thing that will make you laugh will make you cry.” 

I love the game of basketball. I really do, with everything in me. But, sometimes, it can be a lot and be overwhelming because it takes up so much of my time in my life as it is, that I want to be able to get away from it sometimes, not think about it, go play some dominoes for 72 straight hours without eating if I wanted to. I couldn’t do that last season. Of course, I’m going to play dominoes but just not for 72 hours. 

Your appreciation of wine is well documented. Does consumption change from while you’re playing to the offseason?

It just depends on where I’m at. If I’m in LA with Mark Wahlberg, we’re always having some wine. When I’m in Italy, my favorite wines are over there. it’s tough because everywhere I go, people are like, “Let me show you what real wine is like.” It’s like everyone wants me to drink wine in their country and I can’t say no to it. I don’t go crazy with it, though. It’s another way to relax with my people. We travel and talk about where we come from. 

I’ll be in Italy, and I never forget the fact I didn’t know where that was when I was growing up. I didn’t have a passport back in the day. Wine gives me a chance to reflect on seeing so many different countries and all the stamps in my passport now. For me, it’s a blessing and I get the opportunity to talk about that with my friends and family. That’s what I use the offseason for. 

Most Popular

GQ RecommendsThese Gym Equipment Sales Will Help Your Crush Your ResolutionsBy Tyler Chin

GQ RecommendsThe Alex Mill Sale Just Went Double PlatinumBy Gerald Ortiz

GQ RecommendsThe Best Hair Gel for Men Is Spiking Our InterestBy Adrian Clark

Where does the origin of your early morning workouts begin and how did that become a fixture in your routine?

I think it started when I begin hanging around Wahlberg. He’s a huge influence on me. He’s a great human being, great dad, man of God and I think he works so incredibly hard for someone that has what people would consider everything. He works like he has nothing, and I really respect him. I love the fact that I can call at any time and he’ll pick up and talk or give me some advice. I just saw the way he was operating, working and training in the morning so he could have more time throughout the day to spend with his family. Now that I have a daughter, it makes even more sense. I try to get up and get all my training out the way and then it’s just me and her or me and the guys. It’s a lot of things to do throughout the day and that time with my daughter is very important. 

What’s your game day routine?

If we’re home, I’ll try and wake up at seven and get a light lift in. I mean super light–just moving, making sure my hips, knees and ankles are moving. I’ll eat breakfast and go to shootaround. I’ll come home after that, play dominoes, eat lunch, and then get back to the gym early to get a real lift in. After that, it’s getting ready to compete. I’ll eat another meal before I play and after that, it’s just messing around with the guys and coaches to keep things lighthearted. Once it’s time to compete, it’s time to compete. After that, I’ll come home and play dominoes and beat everyone again.

Read MoreThe Real-Life Diet of the RZA, Who Says That Not All Vegan Food Is Actually Good For You 

The leader of the Wu-Tang Clan caught up with GQ about sneaking in 20-minute workouts and all the ways his vegan diet has gotten easier over the last 20 years. 

By Emily Abbate

Related Stories for GQReal Life DietMiami HeatNBAWorking OutFood