From emoJimmy emo to faux locs ombré: the visuals of Jimmy Butler in media days over the years

== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man

Golden State Warriors 's media day on 2026 has arrived, and the fans already know what to expect: another appearance at least curious of Jimmy Butler . The wing became in recent years the undisputed king of trolls in the media day of NBA but the sequence was interrupted, and it remains a question whether his most famous character returns or not.

The beginning: the faux locs of 2022

At the time, internet was taken over by a simple and fun question: how much would his hair have grown during offseason to allow for that look?

2023: "emo jimmy" comes on the scene

Butler emerged with the transformation that became known as "emo Jimmy": straightened hair, a (possibly fake) eyebrow piercing and an energy that shouted "it's not a phase".

2024: the expectation and the bucket of cold water

In 2024, the expectation was huge. Butler, so in Miami Heat , would he appear with a mohawk? With a mullet capable of making rockers from the years 1980 jealous?

"I'm here. Normal hair. No fussing", Butler said when asked about the suspiciously behaved visual.

The absence fueled the homesickness, but trolling went on hiatus that year.

2025: Promise not fulfilled

In 2025, Butler even provoked a possible return of one of his alter egos. "You can see [emo Jimmy], but you're not going to see him up here on media day", he stated.

He even pointed out a surprising defender of the character's return to the Warriors roster: Buddy Hield , then his teammate. "Buddy, for some random reason, loves emo Jimmy", Butler continued.

Emo Jimmy's fanbase, however, never celebrated: the look did not return during the regular season and was apparently scrapped for media day.

What that means for the fans

Now, at 2026, the question remains. Butler has already proven his mastery of the format, he's made promises and failed to keep them, and has indicated that emo Jimmy may be restricted to training if he ever returns. For those who follow the Warriors, media day is no longer just a pre-season formality: it has become an event with its own expectation, even though the most likely outcome is the usual hairy silence. The fans will have to wait and see.