John Butler

John Erik Butler Jr., born on the 4th of December, 2002, is a professional basketball player of American origins currently playing for the Capital City Go-Go, an affiliate of the NBA G League. His basketball career skyrocketed from his playing days at Florida State University as a Seminole and continued to shape and mold him as an athlete.

John Butler Jr. started his early basketball career at Christ Church Episcopal School situated in Greenville, South Carolina. With his skills being polished under his father’s coaching, John Butler Sr., who served as the head coach for his school’s basketball team, Butler was idolized by his younger brother Jordan, who was his teammate during his school days. Making the most out of his senior year, Butler managed to attain an average of 20.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, a performance that earned him the title of Upstate Player of the Year by The Greenville News.

In addition to the recognition by The Greenville News, Butler’s impressive prowess saw him named as the Class 2A Player of the Year. His commitment as a player steered his team to victorious triumph at the state championships. This illuminated his reputation as a valued four-star recruit in basketball circles, and this saw him opt to play college basketball at Florida State University. His choice of college came after he received offers from other notable institutions such as Georgia Tech, Alabama, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.

At the peak of his college year on the 2nd of March, 2022, Butler recorded a career-high with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in a gripping 74–70 win against Notre Dame. As a freshman, he managed to secure an average of 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, and shot 39.3 percent from the three-point range. His potential as a player during his freshman year saw him declare for the 2022 NBA draft, and with this, he decided to forego his remaining college eligibility.

Embarking on his professional career, although Butler went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, he was engaged by the New Orleans Pelicans to participate in NBA Summer League play. However, his time with the Pelicans was short-lived as he was signed to a two-way contract by the Pelicans for the 22–23 season on the 3rd of October, 2022, and waived on the 10th of October.

In an unexpected turn of events, Butler signed another two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on the 20th of October, 2022. He was later assigned to the Stockton Kings by the Trail Blazers on the 26th of February, 2023. After this, Butler signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers on the 6th of July, 2023, but was waived on the 21st of October.

Seeking new opportunities, Butler signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards on the 23rd of October. However, his stint was brief as he was waived on the 8th of December after only appearing in nine games with the Capital City Go-Go, an affiliate of Washington’s NBA G League. Butler’s resilience was evident as he rejoined Capital City two days later and on the 13th of October, 2024, re-signed with the Wizards. This association once again proved fleeting as he was waived after six days and subsequently rejoined the Go-Go by the end of the month.

Butler’s lineage is steeped in basketball. His mother, Casie, played college basketball for South Carolina, and his father, John Sr., serves as a head basketball coach at Christ Church Episcopal School. Butler’s journey from being an impressive college player to a professional player of note satisfies the definition of a promising career in the fiercely competitive world of basketball, and his potential for future accomplishment cannot be understated.