Former Marquette star Jimmy Butler will be featured on ESPN's 'My Wish' series
Ben Steele
Jimmy Butler recognizes the fighting spirit.
After all, the Minnesota Timberwolves star was homeless at 13 years old before being taken in by a friend's family. Through talent and perseverance, he made it out of Tomball, Texas, to a junior college before Buzz Williams recruited him to Marquette.
Butler then scrapped his way from 30th pick in the 2011 NBA draft to becoming one of the league's elite two-way players.
That can't-be-told-no attitude is the perfect example for someone like Ethan Whitney, a 16-year-old from Hortonville who is in treatment for B-cell Lymphoma.
Butler and Whitney will be featured on ESPN's “My Wish” series, which fulfills sports-themed wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Their segment will debut on Thursday's "SportsCenter" at 5 p.m. Milwaukee time.
Butler and Ethan spent a day together in Los Angeles, where Butler lives in the off-season. They shoot hoops and play dominoes.
Ethan is also shown with his family at their home and at QComp Technologies in Appleton, where Ethan's father works.
