Jimmy Butler showed his desire for a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the start of the 2018-19 NBA season. His wish was finally granted nearly a month into the season, as the All-Star wing was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, and Jerryd Bayless.
However, this transaction didn’t come before Butler took the Wolves’ third-stringers and went on to complete a merciless beatdown of his fellow starters at a team practice. However, Butler said on The JJ Redick Podcast that the biggest detail of the practice didn’t even surface:
Redick: I would’ve liked to have been not necessarily on the court with you that day, but just in that gym. Was it uncomfortable, or were people like, “Oh no, it’s just Jimmy being Jimmy”? The way it was sort of recited in the media, it seemed that it would be a little sweaty, a little balmy in there. A little uncomfortable.
Butler: Competing. If you love to compete, you would’ve thrived in the environment. Seriously. Everybody wanted to beat me to show. The crazy part is the most interesting detail wasn’t told.
The most interesting detail of that whole scrimmage that nobody knows: I only shot the ball once.
Redick: Really?
Butler: I only shot the ball one time. I only shot the ball once.
Redick: But every quote coming out of there was like: “Jimmy was getting buckets. He was dominating.”
Butler: Oh, I was dominating, but I only shot the ball once. Dimes, boom, boom, boom. Steals, blocks. I only shot the ball one time.
Butler, since traded, has been arguably the Sixers best performer, as it seems the four-time All-Defensive wing has kept that same chip on his shoulder since moving back east. Philadelphia currently sits at 19-9, good enough for third place in the Eastern Conference.
