Jimmy Butler’s already damaged relationship with the Minnesota Timberwolves got even worse on Wednesday following a heated team scrimmage, which included a moment where the four-time All-Star reportedly screamed, “You can’t win without me,” at general manager Scott Layden. In light of these latest developments, Butler has sat down with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols to discuss his situation with the organization and the infamous practice session.
Despite Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor urging the team front office in late September to resolve the Butler situation within the next "several days," the organization has held onto him even as they were on the brink of getting a deal done. With the 2018-19 season set to begin next week, Butler showed up to practice and everything came to a head.
Butler doesn't deny that these things happened.
Butler explains that he singles out guys like Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns in practice because he wants to get the best out of players that he believes are better than him.
Jimmy Butler talking about Thibs made me laugh pic.twitter.com/Q8BHWdjFQ1
Butler also said that head coach Tom Thibodeau actually likes confrontation. Of course, Butler subtly reminded viewers that Thibodeau coached him over in Chicago.
When asked about his future with the Wolves, he doesn't think their situation is fixable.
And it looks like Wolves teammate Jeff Teague can't wait to say goodbye.
Less than a month ago, Butler demanded that the Timberwolves trade him after meeting with Thibodeau. With one year left on his current contract, Jimmy provided the Wolves with a list of three teams—Clippers, Nets, and Knicks—that he would accept a contract extension, which essentially sweetened the deal for the aforementioned franchises that were reassured he wouldn’t leave at the end of the 2018-19 season.
