On Wednesday the 29-year-old small forward Jimmy Butler joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first since the trade’s rumors had begun.
But things didn’t go smoothly. According to Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN, at the Timberwolves’ practice Jimmy Butler was vicious and expressed his anger by screaming at team’s president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau, general manager Scott Layden and teammates, especially on Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. Butler yelled to Scott Layden: “You f—ing need me, Scott. You can’t win without me”.
Later on, speaking to media about the incident, a four-time NBA All-Star said, per ESPN: “A lot of it is true..I haven’t played basketball in so long. I’m so passionate. I don’t do it for any reason but to compete. All my emotion came out in one time. Was it the right way? No! But I can’t control that when I’m out there competing. That’s raw me, me at my finest, me at my purest. Inside the lines”.
All-Star Jimmy Butler participated in Minnesota's practice, a session that included him verbally challenging teammates, coaches and front office, league sources told ESPN. Butler was vociferous and emotional at times, targeting Thibodeau/Layden/Towns/Wiggins. Story soon on ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018
At one point in a scrimmage, sources said, Butler turned to GM Scott Layden and screamed, "You (bleeping) need me. You can't win without me." Butler left teammates and coaches largely speechless. He dominated the gym in every way. Jimmy's back.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018
A lot of Minnesota players left Timberwolves practice today energized by Butler's performance, mesmerized with him taking end-of-the-bench players and running the table on the regulars, sources said. At the end, he marched out like if a mic drop. Butler delivered a tour de force.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 10, 2018
"All my emotion came out at one time."
Jimmy Butler sat down with @Rachel__Nichols to talk about today's practice and what led to it. See more on SportsCenter at 6 ET and NBA Countdown at 7 ET 📺 pic.twitter.com/znPpDwyW9y
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 10, 2018
