Sometimes, two egos are so massive that they can’t share a locker room or even a basketball during games. That may have been an issue in the fall of 2018 when Jimmy Butler forced a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In September of that year, ESPN (h/t Sporting News) reported that Butler previously desired to head to the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the 2018-19 season, but that “James’ arrival as the franchise’s cornerstone made it less appealing for Butler in the prime of his career.” Eventually, Minnesota sent Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he remained until joining the Miami Heat in the summer of 2019.
After that, Butler was regarded as a cantankerous individual during his stays with the Chicago Bulls, Timberwolves, and Sixers. After Butler was traded from Minnesota to Philly, SB Nation’s Tom Ziller claimed the All-Star “was ruining the Timberwolves’ season and maybe their future.” On top of that, Twitter roasted Butler after he allegedly created drama behind the seasons only a couple of months into his stint with the Sixers.
As documented by The Score, Butler publicly said in September 2019, “I’m not an a—— like everybody thinks that I am.” If that’s something you feel you have to declare, some self-reflection may be in order.