7 People who turned their backs on the Timberwolves
By Austin McGee
2. Jimmy Butler
Here we have probably the most likable guy on the list—Jimmy Butler. A star player who dealt with plenty of adversity growing up, Butler transformed from a no-star recruit in high school to a six-time NBA All-Star.
After putting up modest numbers in college for the Marquette Golden Eagles, the Chicago Bulls decided to draft the hard-nosed forward with the final pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. Similar to Butler's collegiate career, his professional career got off to a slow start.
Butler proved to be a mighty defender with a lack of an offensive game. It took Butler four seasons to begin displaying his now-renowned offensive repertoire. After a Most Improved Player award and three consecutive All-Star appearances, Butler's former coach, Tom Thibodeau, acquired Butler from the Bulls.
In Butler's first season with the squad, Minnesota made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. That season, Butler made the All-NBA third team and finished 10th in MVP voting. He averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
Like many other players on the list, Butler's Minnesota career came to an abrupt ending. Before the beginning of the 2018-19 season, he requested a trade from the Wolves. It began with an infamous training camp practice squabble.
Retold by former Wolves' point guard Jeff Teague, the story begins with Butler failing to show up to offseason workouts. Then, suddenly, on the third day of training camp, Butler arrives. The Heat star showed up, yet failed to partake in any activity before Thibodeau called for a scrimmage.
Once Butler displayed a willingness to partake, Thibodeau named Teague, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Taj Gibson as his teammates. In an interesting turn of events, Butler declined, proclaiming, "I ain't playing them."
Butler decided to team up with the end-of-the-bench guys—players who were destined for the G-League. Perhaps spiting Towns, Butler called out the Wolves big man on defense. He repeatedly stole the ball from Towns and went on to defeat the starters 18-6. After the scrimmage, Butler took off his warmups. Unbeknownst to his teammates, he had cut out "Minnesota" from his jersey and shorts.
After Butler declared, "You can't win without me!" he played only 10 more games in a Wolves uniform before getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.