Why Jimmy Butler wore an Iowa State volleyball shirt before NBA game

The Iowa State volleyball program recently received an unexpected endorsement from an NBA All‑Star.

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler hit the court wearing a gray Nike Iowa State Volleyball T‑shirt before his team’s regular‑season finale against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, April 12.

So why did Butler, a Marquette alum and Texas native with no obvious Iowa State ties at first glance, sport an Iowa State volleyball shirt? Here’s what we know.

Jimmy Butler’s Iowa State volleyball connection

Butler’s decision to wear the shirt wasn’t the result of a lost bet with a former Iowa State coach or player, or an unrelated thrift-store pickup, but rather tied to a longstanding personal connection with a member of the Iowa State volleyball coaching staff.

Butler has been friends with Ciara Jones, Iowa State volleyball’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, since their time together as student‑athletes at Marquette in the late 2000s. The connection was first pointed out on social media by Iowa State women’s basketball radio play‑by‑play announcer Noah Wolf, who noted that the six‑time All-Star selection attended Iowa State’s match at Houston during the 2025 season to support Jones and the team.

Jones, who has been with the Cyclones Volleyball team since 2023, reposted a photo of Butler from Sunday in the Cyclones gear with the star eye emojis and “you love to see it” in her caption. Butler attended Marquette from 2008 to 2011 and Jones from 2008 to 2012.

Jones helped lead the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011, a season in which she was also named a Big East First Team All‑American, according to her Iowa State coaching profile. The two Golden Eagles alums appear together in several posts on Jones’ Instagram.

When did Jimmy Butler tear his ACL?

Butler, 36, has been sidelined since Jan. 19, 2026, after suffering a torn right ACL, an injury that ended his 2025–26 season.

He appeared in 38 games, averaging 20.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 51.9% from the field. After losing Sunday’s matchup 115–110, the Warriors (37–45) are set to rematch the Clippers (42–40) on Wednesday, April 15, in the NBA Play‑In Tournament.

The Cyclones volleyball program capped a strong 2025 season with a 23–8 overall record, their highest win total since 2011, and finished third in the Big 12 at 12–6 in conference play.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.