As a devoted father, Jimmy Butler cherishes his role in the lives of his daughter, Rylee Butler, and son, Brayan Butler. Since 2019, Butler has been rumored to be in a relationship with Kaitlin Nowak, the same year their daughter was born. A few years later, they welcomed their son, although he has remained out of the public eye since then.
Despite not frequently appearing together publicly or on social media, Butler and Nowak clearly prioritize their parenting responsibilities. Rylee’s birth coincided with a pivotal moment in Butler’s career—his first season with the Miami Heat after a brief stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has consistently expressed that being a father takes precedence over his basketball commitments.
Balancing basketball and fatherhood as Butler showcases his family life in the spotlight
Rylee and Brayan both feature in Netflix’s Starting 5, a documentary spotlighting five basketball stars during the 2023-2024 season. The premiere episode showcases Butler starting his day with his children, with Rylee even proudly sharing that her father’s favorite coffee is a cappuccino.
“My kids really put everything into perspective for me,” Butler shared in the documentary. “When I come home, they don’t care if I had a triple-double or fouled out; I’m just their dad. They couldn’t care less about anything else. When I’m home, I strive to be their dad first.”
From Rylee’s favorite tennis player to their involvement in the Netflix documentary, here’s what to know about Jimmy Butler’s children, Rylee and Brayan.
Rylee entered the world on October 23, 2019, in Miami, marking a transformative period for Butler as he began to balance fatherhood with his demanding basketball career. The birth was not widely publicized, reflecting the couple’s desire to maintain their family’s privacy.
The timing of Rylee’s birth coincided with Butler’s inaugural season with the Miami Heat, a period that required him to juggle the responsibilities of being a first-time father while adapting to a new team. Demonstrating his commitment, Butler missed the season opener and the first three games of the 2019 season to support Nowak during Rylee’s arrival.
Brayan was born before June 2023, but Butler kept his son out of the public spotlight. The young boy is featured alongside Rylee in Starting 5, playing with their father.
In a touching interview with ABC News in June 2023, Butler reflected on his children’s deep influence on him, stating that Rylee and Brayan are his “why,” serving as the driving force behind his actions. “My kids are my ‘why’,” he said. “Everything I do now is for them. I want to ensure they’re safe.”
Kyle Lowry, a close friend and former Miami Heat player, has been named Rylee’s godfather. During an April 2021 episode of The Artist and The Athlete podcast, Butler shared that Lowry is not only one of his best friends but also plays an important role in Rylee’s life. When asked about the NBA player he would like to compete against, Butler named Lowry, joking about their close bond while highlighting Lowry’s godfather role.
Although Butler keeps Rylee and Brayan mostly out of the public eye, he has occasionally shared lighthearted moments with Rylee. On her fourth birthday in October 2023, a TikTok video shared by ESPN showed Butler participating enthusiastically in her birthday party, even getting his face painted alongside the other children.
As the face painter applied red paint to his forehead, Butler humorously remarked, “Things you do for your kids.” Laughter from Rylee could be heard in the background when he playfully asked her if she found it funny, to which she sweetly replied, “Yes!” The video concluded with Butler’s finished pirate-themed face paint, complete with an eye patch.
In a Bleacher Report interview, Butler expressed that after the NBA playoffs in 2023, his first priority would be spending time with his daughter. “I’m going to play with my daughter, man. I love her to death; I miss her. I’ve been away for a very long time,” he shared. “We’re going to get ice cream, go to the park, and do a lot of different stuff.”
Rylee has also taken an interest in tennis, with Emma Raducanu as her favorite player. During the Miami Open in March 2022, Butler hosted Raducanu at his Big Face Coffee pop-up shop and mentioned that she is “my daughter’s favorite tennis player.” Raducanu appreciated the compliment, praising Butler’s coffee-making skills and commenting on his coffee art.
