Caron Butler remains close to the game even after a year out of the NBA

Old habits die hard and Caron Butler knows that well.

One year removed from the NBA, but he still can’t shake off his straw-chewing routine.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten my hand on some straw since I landed. But I’m gonna drop at the nearest McDonald’s and get some straw, the red, yellow, and white one. You’ll see that in my mouth,” Butler playfully shared on Thursday as he met the press at NBA Store in Trinoma.

But don’t get distracted with what he’s chewing, but rather focus on what he’s saying as the 37-year-old
post-basketball career as an ambassador for the game.

“I’m doing a lot of things, which is coming out and using my platform to inspire and tell the story of the game of basketball from my eyes and what I’ve seen. I’ve also been staying busy doing case studies and enrolling in the University of Harvard while being a father of four girls. That keeps me busy,” he said.

Being a basketball ambassador has also allowed Butler to venture into new things that are still close to the game like doing color commentary for the league’s broadcast.

Butler, a journeyman who played for nine NBA teams in his 14-year career, has also become a willing mentor for the up-and-comers.

“I’m working while also staying connected to the game of basketball, talking and educating while also seeing some of my young guys that still need that guidance that even when I’m not in the locker room, I could come from a different objective and different place where I could give valuable pieces of information to them,” he said.

Butler is encouraging players to be more vocal about their advocacies and take the opportunity that basketball provides to be a positive influence to their thousands of fans, especially in the age where it’s easy to connect to everyone through social media.

“I think it’s great when you see athletes outside of what they’re considered to be. Whenever you have a talent, you want them to stay in that bubble as that talent. All you want to see them do is play basketball or play football. People are human beings, they have feelings. It’s good to see athletes use their platform and following to educate to the best of their knowledge and talk about things that is a problem. I want to see more of it,” he said.

“The only thing I say is you’re an athlete and you do that, educate yourself on what you’re talking about. If you want to go out there and be vocal, be sure that you’re educated enough to talk about these things and answer the questions.”