The Dating Rumors Involving Shakira And Miami Heat Star Jimmy Butler Explained

Are we in for a hot girl summer? Maybe so, if Shakira has anything to do with it. Since splitting from her ex-husband Gerard Piqué in 2022, the "She Wolf" singer has been linked to some of the entertainment world's most eligible hunks, including actor Tom Cruise, F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, and currently, Miami Heat power forward Jimmy Butler. 

After 12 years and 2 kids together, Shakira seems eager to put Piqué in the backseat. They announced what would become an extremely contentious divorce, rife with cheating allegations, in June 2022. Whether you buy Shakira's story of the missing jam or not, it does seem like Piqué's relationship with his current girlfriend Clara Chia Marti began a lot earlier than people first thought. According to Page Six, Internet sleuths spotted Marti in the background of a 2021 Zoom call that Piqué conducted at the home he shared with his then-wife. The "Hips Don't Lie" hitmaker was "devastated" to learn of her husband's infidelity.

Since then, Shakira has posted her heartbreak on Instagram and discussed her "incredibly difficult" split with Elle, but she's also taken steps to prioritize herself. From hanging out with Cruise at F1 in May to accepting Billboard's Woman of the Year award, Shakira's been having fun, celebrating her success, and looking good doing it. Cue a May appearance at Game 4 of the Boston Celtics-Miami Heat playoffs in Miami, which has sparked rumors of a potential love connection with Butler.

Shakira stans, we've got good news: There may be a reason to believe *something* is going on between her and Miami Heat star, Jimmy Butler. According to Essentially Sports, Shakira showed face at a playoff game, and though it ended in a loss for Butler's team, the NBA player scooped up a big win when Shak started following him on Instagram. It's especially telling because she only follows 159 people! Butler followed her back, kicking off what might grow into a beautiful modern-day love story. A few days later, he liked a video of Shakira singing her new song, "Acrostico." Things further heated up (see what we did there?) when Shakira publicly praised the Miami Heat for cruising past the Boston Celtics in Game 7. On Instagram Stories (via Essentially Sports), she wrote, "This is my acrostic for today: HEROIC, EXTRAORDINARY, AWESOME, TEAM."

Now, it could be that Shakira was celebrating the Heat because she had attended Game 4 with her children, and she chose to broadcast her fandom on social media. Her son Milan is a fan of Butler, and even dressed up as the NBA star for Halloween in 2022. However, others couldn't help but wonder if Butler was on her mind. "If Jimmy Butler gets Shakira and a ring this year, I might build a shrine," one person joked on Twitter (via BroBible). With Butler remaining tight-lipped on what's going down with Shakira, we're left to wonder.

Shakira isn't the only high-profile star Jimmy Butler has been linked to in recent years. In 2020, the Miami Herald reported that he'd been out to dinner with Selena Gomez, and according to E! News, it wasn't the only time they'd been seen together. "[Selena and Jimmy] hung out a few times while Selena was in New York City. Jimmy asked her to go to dinner and they had a great time. It's very casual and she's open to seeing where things go, but isn't settling down just yet," a source told the outlet.

Their flirtation didn't last long though, and Butler confirmed his relationship with Instagram model Kaitlin Nowak at Super Bowl LIV, per Fanbuzz. Nowak is also the mother of Butler's child, daughter Rylee, whom they welcomed in 2019. In 2021, Butler opened up to WSJ about the personal challenges of fatherhood, explaining that his celebrity status gets in the way of his ability to be a dad. "I hate that I can't take my daughter to the zoo because everyone wants to talk basketball or take a photo," he complained. For now, Butler and Nowak seem to still be going strong, which makes romance rumors between him and Shakira just that: rumors. However, should he end up being single in the near future, perhaps he and Shakira can bond over being single parents.