Cameron Brink has finally shut down the ongoing speculation linking her to Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, emphasizing that the narrative has been blown out of proportion. In a candid conversation on her podcast ‘Straight To Cam’, the Los Angeles Sparks forward expressed frustration over how every interaction she has with male athletes is turned into a romantic rumor, stating:
“I think, like, obviously, it started—I was—it was like a pre-draft thing. It goes all the way back to before being drafted, and it was a video of this NBA player or that NBA player. And it was always Jimmy or someone random.”
“I think Jimmy’s hilarious because he—like, I really said that because, honestly, the photos—they would show me photos, and it was him with his emo hair. And I just think he has a great story. Yeah, I think he’s hilarious. And I just love funny people. So I was like, ‘Jimmy, Jimmy.'”
“And then people, of course, take that, and it’s like, ‘Oh, you know,’ and it just—it just can be so exhausting. And it’s not just Jimmy. It’s like, if I go—I was pitching, doing the first pitch at a Dodgers game, and I was standing next to Shohei, and it’s like the same thing.”
“There’s a picture of me laughing next to him, and they’re like, ‘Oh, they’re flirting.’ I’m like, it does not have to be turned into that narrative every single time. And it’s like the same with other WNBA players. I know Angel goes through the same stuff. Nothing can just be professional. Like, the truest professional. We’re peers. And that’s the way—it can just be so weird.”
“It’s like—what else? I talked about this on Paul’s podcast, PG’s podcast. It was about Kawhi, and it’s like people make that weird as well. So it really makes me not want to go online and read things because it just makes me so uncomfortable. I’m like, it’s not like that. Yeah, a mutual admiration, but not in that way.”
“And it’s like—I was walking into—I was in Miami, like I said before, for Unrivaled, and I was walking into a Heat game. I was going with a friend, and people are yelling at me, like, ‘Where’s Jimmy?'”
“I was just on CBS or CBS Sports doing a broadcast for Ops and Nutrition. I was doing, you know, just PR. And at the end of the interview, it’s like, ‘Where do you think Jimmy should go?'”
“I’m like, I’m not here to talk about another man that I really don’t know that well, if I’m being honest. I think he’s very nice, but I don’t—I don’t know that man very well.
But I think also, people—I mean, at the end of the day, it’s really not that serious. And I’m so—I’m—I’m pretty indifferent about it. But if I had to—I’m like, it’s just exhausting. It’s annoying.”
Brink clarified that the speculation dates back to before she was even drafted into the WNBA. It all started with social media users repeatedly linking her to different NBA players, with Butler’s name coming up frequently.
The situation escalated further when Butler was seen wearing Brink’s jersey at a Sparks game, fueling the speculation. Despite the harmless nature of these events, social media ran wild with theories about their relationship. Brink admitted that the constant rumors have become exhausting, making it difficult for her to engage online without encountering unnecessary speculation.
This issue, she pointed out, extends beyond her situation with Butler. Brink referenced how other female athletes, like Angel Reese, also face similar challenges, where any casual interaction with male athletes is turned into a dating rumor.
Brink also recalled a recent uncomfortable moment while attending a Miami Heat game, where fans in the crowd shouted, “Where’s Jimmy?” at her.
The WNBA star also shared her frustrations with how professional relationships between male and female athletes are often framed in an unnecessary romantic context. She noted how the same thing happened when she mentioned Kawhi Leonard on a podcast, and people twisted her comments into something else.
With her firm stance, Brink has drawn attention to a larger issue—how female athletes are often subject to unnecessary speculation about their personal lives, rather than being recognized solely for their accomplishments. By addressing the situation head-on, she’s made it clear that her focus remains on basketball, not baseless rumors.
