In a story that sounds almost too surreal to be true, NBA star Jimmy Butler has opened up about the private friendship that changed — and ultimately saved — his life: his secret bond with rock legend Ace Frehley, the original guitarist of KISS.
Sources close to Butler say their friendship began quietly in 2022, after a chance encounter backstage at a charity concert in Miami. What started as casual banter over music and sneakers evolved into a profound, brotherly connection — one that few people ever knew existed.
“Ace wasn’t just a legend to me,” Butler reportedly told a close friend. “He was the person who pulled me back when I was at my lowest. I don’t even think he realized what he did for me.”
At the time, Jimmy was struggling — both mentally and emotionally — following a turbulent season filled with injuries, trade rumors, and the crushing weight of leadership. Friends say he’d withdrawn from the spotlight, avoiding calls and skipping team events. That’s when Ace, then in his early 70s, stepped in.
“Jimmy was in a dark place,” said one insider. “Ace would call him late at night, just to talk — about life, about music, about not giving up. He’d tell him, ‘You’re not done yet, kid. You still got a whole lot of fire left.’ And that lit something back up in Jimmy.”
The unlikely duo reportedly met every few months — sometimes at Ace’s studio in New York, other times in Miami during the off-season. They recorded several unreleased jam sessions together, blending Butler’s love for classic rock and soul with Frehley’s raw guitar energy.
But everything changed this summer. When news broke that Ace Frehley had passed away unexpectedly, Jimmy was on a team trip overseas. Sources say he received the call mid-flight — and broke down in tears.
“He just kept saying, ‘I never got to say goodbye… I never thanked him for saving me.’” one teammate shared. “It hit him harder than anyone could’ve imagined.”
In the days that followed, Butler reportedly canceled all public appearances, retreating into quiet mourning. He later shared a cryptic Instagram Story: a photo of a guitar pick on a Miami Heat jersey, with the caption:
“Forever in tune. Thank you for everything, Ace.”
Fans have since flooded social media with support, many expressing shock at the hidden friendship and admiration for Butler’s vulnerability.
“You think you know Jimmy Butler,” one fan wrote, “but this shows a side of him none of us ever saw — the human side.”
Those closest to Butler say he’s now considering releasing one of their unreleased tracks in Ace’s memory — a soulful, blues-infused ballad titled “Back from the Edge.”
“It was the song Ace told Jimmy to finish someday,” a source revealed. “Now he finally might.”