Dunking With Wolves
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5 goals for Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves

By Vince Massara

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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“A bad lockerroom guy”

Whether you consider it analysts trying to fill a twenty-four-hour news cycle or smoke to a fire, you cannot deny that Jimmy Butler’s locker room presence has been questioned recently.

On ESPN’s The Jump, Bulls great, Scottie Pippen had the following to say about Jimmy Butler.

"Pippen: “In Chicago, he didn’t handle it very well and I think it really turned the organization—” Why do you think he didn’t handle it very well? Pippen: “I don’t think he handled it right from a leadership standpoint of what it takes to be a superstar.” What are the specifics that people are staying he wasn’t good in the locker room? Pippen: “Well, it’s just a lot of locker room talk that Jimmy was disrespecting the head coach, disrespecting the assistant coach. Just wasn’t showing the type of leadership that you’d expect from your best player.”"

Pippen was not the only ex-NBA star who mentioned Butler’s locker room presence. Antonie Walker was recently quoted on ESPN about Jimmy Butler.

"Antonie Walker: He’s just a bad locker room guy. A lot of outbursts took place throughout the season, with the coaches, with the players. “You try to build something, especially in Chicago, and he’s going to be your best player, he has to be a leader on and off the court. “And and did a poor example of that. I think that’s why the Bulls kind of parted ways with him.”"

In a young locker room, Jimmy Butler will have to be a positive presence. Something that former coach, Tom Thibedeau will look to bring back out in Butler.