'Joining the 10s' - Jimmy Butler dons No. 10 for Golden State Warriors, pays homage to Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ronaldinho among other soccer legends

Former Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler was traded to the Golden State Warriors in early February and the 35-year-old has picked a new number that has sent waves across soccer and basketball. The American opted to take the No. 10 as his new jersey number, which he revealed was in tribute to several great soccer stars including Neymar, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and more. Not only that, Butler also cited several NBA legends as his social media post showcased Tim Hardaway, alongside Sadio Mane while Larry Drew featured alongside Ronaldinho.

The new Golden State Warriors star is a well-known fan of soccer although Jimmy Butler is more known for being good friends with Neymar. The former Barcelona and PSG superstar has known the 35-year-old basketball star for years, and their relationship goes back to Butler’s time with the Chicago Bulls. It started after Butler was captivated by the Brazilian’s performances in 2016 and by 2018, with the help of social media the two were good friends.

Butler made his debut for Golden State Friday, helping his team complete a stunning rally in its win over the Bulls Saturday. He dropped 25 points in that game.