Open Floor Podcast: Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler joins the Open Floor Podcast to discuss the Bulls, his outlook on life and more.

In the latest episode of the Open Floor Podcast, SI.com's Lee Jenkins is joined by Bulls star Jimmy Butler to discuss his outlook on life, Chicago's playoff chances and more.

Early in the program, Jenkins talks to SI.com's Ben Golliver, who wrote a cover story on Butler for Sports Illustratedlast season. Golliver discusses what it was like interviewing Butler about his difficult upbringing and journey to the NBA. The two also talk about Butler's incredible ascension to becoming one of the best two-way players in the league.  

Later, Butler joins the show to talk about his transition from being a "bad" basketball player as a kid to an NBA superstar. Butler also talks about the origins of his game, his relentless energy, his leadership style, the impact Tom Thibodeau and Buzz Williams left on him and the Bulls' struggles this season.

Butler also talks about how he's using basketball as a vehicle to give back to the community and kids in particular. Despite his difficult childhood, Butler says he never uses his past as motivation for the future. "You can't let the past define you," he said.

Butler also touches on his charity work and new partnership with Kellogg's to leave "No Kid Hungry." To read more, click here.

​​Listen below and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and SoundCloud.

Check back on SI.com next week for another episode of Open Floor.