Jimmy Butler is officially in Minnesota, reunited with his former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. While Thibs has a great appreciation for Jimmy’s work ethic, their former bosses tended to focus on his lack of leadership skills. It’s been reported through various credible sources that over the course of their working relationship, Gar Forman and John Paxson were never convinced that Butler was the leader their team needed.
At least one retired NBA star agrees with them. Appearing on The Locker Room on ESPN radio, Chicago native and three-time All Star with the Boston Celtics Antoine Walker shared his thoughts on Butler’s weaknesses.
“Jimmy Butler is a young guy killer. He’s a very selfish player in the sense that he comes in, takes care of his business … He’s just a bad locker room guy. A lot of outbursts took place throughout the season with the coaches, with the players. You’re trying 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 he did a poor example of that. I think that’s why the Bulls parted ways with him.” – Antoine Walker
Insinuating that Butler’s poor leadership skills are the sole reason the Bulls decided to trade him is a bit of a stretch. The fact of the matter is the front office duo of Forman and Paxson decided it was time to rebuild, because they couldn’t legitimately contend with Butler as their best player. Still, some of Walker’s comments about his weak leadership mirror certain reports about GarPax’s view of their departed star.
Walker won his only NBA title as a member of the Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat in 2006. You wonder what Walker thinks of Wade’s leadership skills. Yes, Wade is one of the more liked and respected veteran stars around the league. However, Butler followed Wade’s lead on the night of their notorious media explosion that had both players calling out the younger guys on the roster for not trying and not caring enough. That looked like a weak move on Wade’s part, considering his complete lack of effort on the defensive end this season. Word spread quickly that it was Rajon Rondo, not Wade or Butler, whom most of the young Bulls respected and looked to for leadership.
Butler has not made any official comments or responses to Walker’s criticism. Usually he lets his game do the talking, but Jimmy is expected be the veteran leader for a very young team in Minnesota. Can he play that role more successfully than he did in Chicago? Thibodeau, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns sure hope so.
