Kicks

Jimmy Butler Gifts His Game-Worn Sneakers to Neymar

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler gave his Li-Ning sneakers to Neymar Jr.

Pat Benson

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler gifts his shoes to Neymar Jr.
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler gifts his shoes to Neymar Jr. / Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA fans all over the world know that as soon as spring arrives, the Miami Heat flip their switch. It does not matter how far back they are in the standings; the Heat come to play for the final stretch of the regular season and all of the postseason.

That fact is not lost on the soccer legend Neymar Jr. The 32-year-old was spotted in South Beach this week, rubbing shoulders with David and Victoria Beckham (thus sparking rumors about where he could play next).

But it was not all business for Neymar. The Heat-superfan sat courtside for last night's lopsided game between Miami and the Portland Trail Blazers. After logging just 25 minutes of action, Butler made his way over to Neymar after the game and gifted him a pair of his game-worn sneakers. Check out the video below.

We love to see icons of different sports showing love to each other. Neymar loves hoops, and Butler is a big soccer fan. Plus, they both have a long history in the footwear industry. Neymar spent 15 years with Nike before switching to PUMA in 2021. Butler left Jordan Brand in 2020 before signing with Li-Ning.

Now, Butler is on his second signature sneaker the Chinese brand. During last night's game, Butler wore the Li-Ning Jimmy Butler 2 in an unreleased yellow, green, and blue colorway. If we did not know any better, it would look like it was inspired by the Brazilian national team's iconic soccer jerseys (or kits).

Fans wanting to purchase Butler's Li-Ning sneakers should visit KICKS CREW. The sneaker platform has a global reach that makes it easy to find footwear from all over the world. In the meantime, we will be awaiting another one of Miami's patented playoff runs. Stay locked into FanNation Kicks for all your sneaker news.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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