If nothing else, the protracted Jimmy Butler-Minnesota Timberwolves divorce has been a boon for team content. The smoke, the back and forth on social media has been tragically entertaining to watch what was potentially a team on the rise become a toxic dumpster fire. As a trade had not been reached as the season loomed, Jimmy Butler would be expected to report to the team and when he did, high-grade accelerant would be added to that fire.
That fire was fueled Wednesday.
Butler showed up unexpectedly to Timberwolves’ practice (he arrived late) and proceeded to substitute himself in with the third team to face the starters.
Through the course of the practice Butler proceeded to verbally tear down both Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. He screamed such heart-warning sentiments such as “they ain’t s—-!“ and “they soft!” There was an instance where Butler was guarding Towns in the post. Once Towns got the entry pass, Butler yelled, “He can’t do s— against me!” Towns, in true alpha dog fashion, ended up passing the ball back out.
Even President of Basketball Operations/ Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and General Manager Scott Layden were not safe from Butler’s verbal wrath. There was a point in the scrimmage where Butler turned in GM Layden’s direction and said rather voiciferously, “You f——-g need me. You can’t win without me.”
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
League sources told Yahoo Sports that Butler stormed out when practice ended and did not stretch with the rest of the team. Towns huddled the team and delivered a message that focused on everyone keeping their emotions in check. The message felt empty,according to some of the players.
One unidentified Timberwolves players told Yahoo Sports: “ I ain’t never seen some s—t like that. Jimbo showed out.”
I must agree with this anonymous player. In all my years of watching basketball at all levels, I have never seen such a situation betweeen an organization and one of its players. This ordeal is one that provides us with never-before seens on nearly a daily basis. It has surpassed the point of embarrassing and it entering the realm of ridiculousness that The Real Houswives or Love and Hip-Hop could only dream of attaining. The Timberwolves continue to have any leverage they may have erode with each passing day. They lost even more with today’s practice fiasco. The toxic environment in Minnesota is making it the Three Mile Island of the NBA.
