John Butler Jr.

John Butler Jr.'s Biography

John Erik Butler Jr. was born on December 4, 2002, blossoming into one of the leading figures in American professional basketball. A high scion among the ranks of the NBA G-League, Butler impresses on the court for the Capital City Go-Go, the Washington Wizards’ affiliate team. This, however, is not the only summit he has surmounted. His play and determination amidst college basketball’s competitive landscape brought him acclaim at Florida State University, where he competed on behalf of the Florida State Seminoles.

Rewind to his early life, Butler was honing his skills in Greenville, South Carolina, at Christ Church Episcopal School. Under the vigilant tutelage of his father, John Sr., and playing alongside his younger brother, Jordan, he became a formidable force in his senior year. He ended the season with an impressive average of 20.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. This remarkable performance did not go unnoticed, and The Greenville News honored him with the Upstate Player of the Year award.

Subsequently, his extraordinary talent and tenacity on the court contributed to him being named Class 2A Player of the Year, while leading his team to triumph with the state championship. This athletic prodigy, rated a four-star recruit, had ample offers from Georgia Tech, Alabama, the University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. However, he took the decided step to commit himself to play college basketball at Florida State.

In the stride of his college career, Butler made a significant mark on March 2, 2022, where he set a career-high 16 points alongside eight rebounds and four blocks. This contributed to a heart-racing win against Notre Dame with a final score of 74-70. Bolstering his reputation, he logged a freshman year average of 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, displaying an impressive three-point range shooting accuracy of 39.3 percent.

Feeling ready for the bigger stage, Butler declared for the 2022 NBA draft forgoing his remaining college eligibility. Although he went undrafted, this did not deter the ambitious player. He joined the New Orleans Pelicans for the NBA Summer League and on October 3, 2022, he was signed by the Pelicans on a two-way contract for the 22-23 season. However, after being waived on October 10, he was picked up by the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way contract on October 20, 2022.

Butler’s journey encountered a few stumbling blocks along the way. He was signed and waived by the Blazers twice and once each by the Washington Wizards. Eventually, Butler was assigned to the Stockton Kings by the Blazers in February 2023 before returning to his roots. He signed a two-way contract with the Wizards’ affiliate team, the Capital City Go-Go on December 10, 2023.

Considering the stellar reputation both his parents command – his mother, Casie, was a collegiate basketball player for South Carolina and his father doubles as a head basketball coach at Christ Episcopal School – it seems sports excellence is in Butler’s blood. Having been re-signed and waived by the Wizards in October 2024, he has found his home back at Go-Go as of October 28, 2024.

In conclusion, the narrative of John Erik Butler Jr. is one of resilience, determination, and talent. Despite roadblocks and rejections, this young man’s story continues to unfold, etching a trail of significant strides both on the court and off. As he navigates the professional basketball landscape, many eagerly watch to see where his promising career will take him next.