Jimmy Butler was traded to the Chicago Bulls by the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer. In an interview with ESPN, the All-Star now spoke about the reasons for this.
Butler had spent seven seasons with the Bulls before being hauled to Minnesota for Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn in the summer. I’ve been thinking about a change for quite some time now,”I guess I’ve done some things they didn’t like,”Butler said,”For example, the way I’ve talked to my teammates or coaches.”
For some time now, it was considered an open secret that Butler and Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg didn’t get along too well with each other. He confirmed this now:”People don’t work as hard as I do and maybe they don’t expect as much from others as I do. That’s why I said from the beginning that it would be either my way or that of Fred Hoiberg. And they made the right decision for Fred. Good for her.”
He is already looking forward to his return:”I have painted the game red in my calendar, on 9th day I’m back. February, baby. Then I’ll be back. You better hope I hit 0/30,”said Butler,”because every time I hit, I’ll have to look at the bank and say something. But I’m glad to be here. Sometimes you just have to be grateful for that.”
Butler is currently in third place at the Western Conference with Wolves after the defeat in Golden State on a 7-4 record. At the moment he scores 14.7 points, 5 rebounds and 4.1 assists on average.