Jackie Butler
Encyclopedia
Jackie Butler is an American
professional basketball
player formerly in the NBA. Butler is 6'10" and weighs 260 pounds.
Butler attended McComb High School and originally committed to play at Mississippi State University
but failed to qualify academically. He later enrolled at Laurinburg Institute, then transferred to Coastal Christian Academy
prep school
in Virginia Beach
. He went undrafted in 2004 and was cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves
in training camp.
Butler played briefly with the New York Knicks
for the 2004-05 NBA season
. He scored ten points over three games, by successfully making all four of his field goals and both free throw attempts. Butler finished the 2004-2005 season with the Continental Basketball Association
where over 40 games with the Great Lakes Storm he averaged 18.1 points (tenth in CBA), 10.7 rebounds (third) and 1.45 blocks (third) per game. He later was drafted in the 2005 AAPBL
Draft. However the league folded soon thereafter.
When Larry Brown
was hired as the New York Knicks
' head coach, it was unclear what sort of role Butler would have. After the pre-season, Brown publicly commented on how happy he was with Butler, and considered him his fourth rookie (along with Channing Frye
, Nate Robinson
and David Lee
). After a rocky start, Butler was soon praised as being the Knicks' best center, with Eddy Curry
and Jerome James
having disappointing starts to their Knick careers. For the 2005-06 NBA season
Butler played in 55 games averaging 13.5 minutes, 5.3 points (54.4% field goal percentage) and 3.3 rebounds per game. He earned $641,748 with the Knicks.
In July 2006 Butler signed a three-year, US$7 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs
. He was considered a long term project. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
said on Oct 26, 2006 "...most of his playing time in the initial part of the season is going to be in practice, learning what a work ethic is day in and day out and what it takes to play at this level."
On July 12, 2007 the Spurs traded Butler and the rights to Luis Scola
to the Houston Rockets
for Vasileios Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round draft
pick and cash. He played on the Rockets 2007 summer league team, but was waived in the 2007-2008 preseason (October 2007).
Scouts consider him a gifted offensive player but a questionable defender. Popovich and Butler's first high school coach have both stated that Butler resembles legendary big man Moses Malone
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player formerly in the NBA. Butler is 6'10" and weighs 260 pounds.
Butler attended McComb High School and originally committed to play at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
but failed to qualify academically. He later enrolled at Laurinburg Institute, then transferred to Coastal Christian Academy
Coastal Christian Academy (VA)
Coastal Christian Academy is a prep school in Virginia Beach, Virginia....
prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
. He went undrafted in 2004 and was cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
in training camp.
Butler played briefly with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the 2004-05 NBA season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
. He scored ten points over three games, by successfully making all four of his field goals and both free throw attempts. Butler finished the 2004-2005 season with the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
where over 40 games with the Great Lakes Storm he averaged 18.1 points (tenth in CBA), 10.7 rebounds (third) and 1.45 blocks (third) per game. He later was drafted in the 2005 AAPBL
All-American Professional Basketball League
The All-American Professional Basketball League was a minor basketball league formed in 2005 by Worth Christie. Announced on January 23, 2005 the league viewed itself as a direct minor league outlet for the National Basketball Association . The best players were to be promised salaries of up to...
Draft. However the league folded soon thereafter.
When Larry Brown
Larry Brown (basketball)
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" Brown is an American basketball coach and former player. He most recently served as head coach of the National Basketball Association's Charlotte Bobcats....
was hired as the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
' head coach, it was unclear what sort of role Butler would have. After the pre-season, Brown publicly commented on how happy he was with Butler, and considered him his fourth rookie (along with Channing Frye
Channing Frye
Channing Thomas Frye is an American professional basketball player and currently plays for the Phoenix Suns. His positions are center and power forward. He attended the University of Arizona...
, Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder...
and David Lee
David Lee (basketball)
David Lee is an American professional basketball player who is a power forward and center for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for the University of Florida and was selected by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2005 NBA...
). After a rocky start, Butler was soon praised as being the Knicks' best center, with Eddy Curry
Eddy Curry
Eddy Curry is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He was born in Harvey, Illinois...
and Jerome James
Jerome James
Jerome Keith James is an American professional basketball player. James played at Florida A&M University, and was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft. Over the course of his career, he has played for the Kings, Seattle SuperSonics and New York Knicks...
having disappointing starts to their Knick careers. For the 2005-06 NBA season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
Butler played in 55 games averaging 13.5 minutes, 5.3 points (54.4% field goal percentage) and 3.3 rebounds per game. He earned $641,748 with the Knicks.
In July 2006 Butler signed a three-year, US$7 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
. He was considered a long term project. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich is an American basketball coach, and is currently the head coach of the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. With the resignation of Jerry Sloan as head coach of the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2011, Popovich is the longest tenured coach in the NBA and also the...
said on Oct 26, 2006 "...most of his playing time in the initial part of the season is going to be in practice, learning what a work ethic is day in and day out and what it takes to play at this level."
On July 12, 2007 the Spurs traded Butler and the rights to Luis Scola
Luis Scola
Luis Alberto Scola Balvoa is an Argentine professional basketball player. The power forward-center for the Argentine national team is currently signed with the NBA's Houston Rockets. He formerly was a Euroleague star with the ACB's Saski Baskonia...
to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
for Vasileios Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
pick and cash. He played on the Rockets 2007 summer league team, but was waived in the 2007-2008 preseason (October 2007).
Scouts consider him a gifted offensive player but a questionable defender. Popovich and Butler's first high school coach have both stated that Butler resembles legendary big man Moses Malone
Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
.