Jimmy Butler believes that the Milwaukee Bucks have conducted a ‘highway f-ing robbery’ and had robbed the Miami Heat off from receiving Damian Lillard. Jimmy was excited about Miami potentially acquiring Lillard, but his hopes had been washed away by the Bucks.
Had Damian Lillard been traded to the Miami Heat to play with Butler, the team would have become powerful beyond imagination. Unfortunately for the Heat, that didn’t happen but Butler says that he is happy for Dame. The only thing he isn’t happy is the fact that Dame landed in the Bucks because he associates the team with someone he dislikes.
Butler shares unfiltered thoughts on Lillard’s trade
Jimmy Butler is frustrated about the fact that Dame has been traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. This is because their Head Coach is Adrian Griffin.
This caused some confusion among fans because during his Chicago Bulls days, Jimmy and Adrian had a close relationship. Adrian was the Bulls coach back when Jimmy Butler used to play for the Bulls.
In fact, Butler credited Griffin with helping him take his game to the next level. But now, Jimmy Buckets has promised that the Heat will defeat Giannis, Dame and Adrian and eliminate them. Jimmy is a competitive guy and people know that he will try his best to do what he has promised. The very grudge he holds against Adrian Griffin will act as a fuel and propel him towards victory.
“I’m more pissed off that Damian Lillard went to Milwaukee because he went to Adrian Griffin’s team. Everybody knows I don’t like Adrian Griffin at all. Since my Chicago days”, Butler said. For those who are still confused with Butler’s statement, the Miami Heat star said this as a joke. In reality Adrian and Butler are good friends.
Why did Jimmy Butler leave the Bulls?
Butler’s stint with the Chicago Bulls is a remarkable success story as Butler went from being the 30th pick in 2011 to becoming the unquestioned heart and soul of the Bulls squad that made the NBA Playoffs in five of the six seasons he was with the team.
However just like every other player, Butler’s stay with the Bulls had invited certain controversies. In January of 2017, he and then-teammate Dwyane Wade spoke out against the efforts of the team’s younger players. As a result, the two were fined and held out of the starting lineup in their next game. Butler had also passed comments against the then Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg.
“I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah, but I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times”, Butler said in 2015.
“I know Fred is a laid-back guy and I respect him for that, but when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you gotta get on guys, myself included. You gotta do what you’re supposed to do when you’re out there playing basketball.”
With the Bulls also keeping an eye on their salary cap, the team eventually traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in June 2017 in exchange for Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and a draft pick that became Lauri Markkanen. However, Butler’s time in Minnesota was brief as he again clashed with the younger players and was subsequently sent to the Philadelphia 76ers, before finally signing with the Heat in 2019.
