Mark Wahlberg was Jimmy Butler’s first A-list celebrity friend. Their friendship sparked last summer when Wahlberg came to the Bulls practice facility to shoot some hoops with the Bulls guard. Since then, it’s been parties and barbecues for the two big time stars. Butler spends his time in California during his summer break with Mark Wahlberg as they’ve both expressed many times on Instagram.
“From where he’s come from, he’s taught me so much,” Butler said. “What he’s been through to where he is now, we are kind of on the same path, just a little bit different. All this adversity where he is now. More than anything he doesn’t care I am an NBA player. He just wants me moving in the right direction. He’s a role model for so many people. But I look up to him for the way he is with his kids, his family. And the way he treats his entourage (the successful HBO series and later movie was loosely based on Wahlberg). Everybody respects the guy because he treats you with respect. That’s how I want to be known. I want to treat you all with respect. The dude is an incredible dude. He is one of the most genuine people you can be around. He works hard, studies the scripts. He just finished up Deep Water Horizon, but he’s probably on two scripts from now because that’s how his mind works. He’s actually the one (that) got (me) waking up at 5 o’clock and working because that’s what he does, wakes up 4:30, 5 and he reads (scripts) and then he goes works out and starts his day.” – Jimmy Butler on Mark Wahlberg
It might be a mouthful to read, but every word is genuine. It’s not about how big of a celebrity Wahlberg is or how much money he makes, it’s about the inspiration Butler finds when he’s around Wahlberg. Both are hard working people in their respective fields, and it’s good to see Butler step out of the basketball world to find inspiration about worth ethic and life from a guy like Mark Wahlberg.
A photo posted by Jimmy Butler (@jimmybutler) on
happy birthday to one of the best people i have gotten a chance to be around and get to know
A photo posted by Jimmy Butler (@jimmybutler) on
