Jimmy Butler's legend grows every day.
First came the 56-point eruption in Game 4 to put the Heat up 3-1 over the Bucks, tied for the fourth-most points in NBA playoff history.
Then came the miraculous buzzer-beater to force overtime in Game 5 and lift the Heat to a stunning upset.
Now it's his Timberwolves' past stealing the spotlight courtesy of an incredible story from former Minnesota teammate Jeff Teague. Earlier this week, Teague appeared on the Club 520 podcast and recalled the now-infamous practice where Butler destroyed the rest of the starters before storming off and conducting an interview with Rachel Nichols.
You have to watch it in full to truly appreciate the hilarity.
- Butler cutting out 'Minnesota' on his jersey and shorts.
- Butler beating the starters with the third-stringers 18-6.
- Butler talking trash emphatically at Towns, Wiggins and coach Tom Thibodeau.
- Butler yelling at GM Scott Layden, 'You f— need me.'
- Butler leaving in the middle of practice to go home and conduct an interview.
- Teague and the rest of the team seeing the interview after practice while in the lockerroom.
There's a lot to unpack.
Jeff Teague on Jimmy pic.twitter.com/lhXqX1JNRV
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports) April 27, 2023
And while the actual events are old news, Teague provided some first-hand insight that elevates the hilarity and ridiculousness to a whole new level.
Jimmy Butler's practice scrimmage with Timberwolves
Let's back it up a bit.
After spending his first six seasons with the Bulls where he blossomed into an All-Star, Butler was traded to the Timberwolves in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the 7th overall pick in the 2017 draft which became Lauri Markkanen.
Butler was eyeing a new deal, the Bulls weren't sure of handing him the max and Chicago was on the heels of an up-and-down experimental season with Butler tag-teaming alongside Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.
Shortly after being traded to Minnesota, the Timberwolves inked Andrew Wiggins to a five-year, $148 million extension which laid the groundwork for Butler's gripes. After leading the Timberwolves to their first playoff appearance in 14 years, Butler naturally wanted to get paid.
While Minnesota did offer a four-year, $110 million extension, Butler ultimately turned it down, unhappy with how the team managed the rest of the roster thus hinting at discord with Wiggins and Towns.
At the same time in September 2018, Minnesota decided to give Karl-Anthony Towns a five-year, $158 million extension. Two weeks later and just before the start of training camp, Butler requested a trade.
Butler ultimately reported to camp but did not play in the preseason. According to Butler during an interview with JJ Redick, the Wolves made him practice so in defiance, he teamed up with the third-stringers and destroyed the starters — including Towns, Wiggins, and Teague — while only shooting once.
Then he left.
Jimmy Butler's interview with Rachel Nichols
Immediately after leaving, Butler went home and on the spot conducted an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
Now, the coincidence and timing make it all suspicious. Was it all a setup? Was the entire two-act upstaging a scripted bit of drama?
Not according to Butler.
On the same podcast with Redick, Butler claimed that the interview had been set up for three weeks. There are certainly conflicting reports about whether or not that's true, including some reports that Butler had called Nichols to request the interview just one day prior.
Regardless of how it came about, it happened. And it was glorious.
Details of the scrimmage from hours earlier. Accusations that certain teammates weren't committed to winning. Why the rift with the organization couldn't be fixed.
And according to the story from Teague, he was just sitting there at the practice facility watching it all unfold just after getting run off the court by Butler and a bunch of third-teamers.
