Everybody is keeping an eye on the Timberwolves early in this NBA season, and it’s for all the wrong reasons. The Jimmy Butler trade demand drama has overtaken anything the Wolves can do on the court and it’s left their young stars like Andrew Wiggins in a tough spot. Butler didn’t do Wiggins any favors when he went on a practice tirade and proceeded to immediately do a sit down interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols.
During the interview, Butler took a subtle shot at Wiggins competitiveness. He complimented him on being one of the most talented players on the team, but wants to see Wiggins back up that talent with effort on a nightly basis. Butler’s problems with his young teammates not being as competitive as him has led to perceived tension and is the assumed reason for why he requested a trade out of Minnesota.
Wiggins, however, says that much of this is overblown. According to the man himself, he and Butler have apparently always been cool, and the infamous practice tirade wasn’t that chaotic.
Wiggins in his relationship with Butler: "Me and Jimmy have always been cool. Even the first time I saw him at training camp, we talked, there was never a problem. People on social media make things bigger than what it is."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) October 24, 2018
Wiggins on the infamous Butler return practice: "It wasn't that bad. I feel like from the outside looking in it was a lot worse than from the inside looking out. As basketball players, competitors, it was just a competitive practice. It wasn't as chaotic as people think."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) October 24, 2018
Credit to Wiggins for trying to downplay this situation, but it’s hard to believe him with everything that has been happening around the Wolves, especially when his own brother made it clear he’s not a big fan of Butler. It’s possible that he and Butler really are cool, because most of the reports of tension in the Wolves locker room seem to do with Butler and young star Karl-Anthony Towns. Maybe some of that has spilled over into Wiggins’ relationship with him, but for now, the two seem to at least be putting on a persona of getting along.
That said, his claim the infamous Butler practice wasn’t as chaotic as it was reported seems like a bit of a stretch. Everything that has been reported about that practice — from what happened during the practice to Butler’s interview with ESPN — makes it sound like this is damage control out of Wiggins.
