Michael Carter-Williams recently shared a revealing story about the tense relationship between Jimmy Butler and former Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg. According to Carter-Williams who was on the ‘Thanalysis’ show, the friction between Butler and Hoiberg created a volatile environment within the team during the 2016-17 NBA season.
“The craziest season I’ve ever been a part of was Chicago… I love Jimmy, Jimmy’s a great dude, but this is crazy bro. Our locker room was bad bro. It was right in the beginning of the year too. Everybody was pissed off.”
“Like, upset, Jimmy wasn’t getting along with Coach Hoiberg, so we had a team meeting early. But last game, the refs were terrible.”
“Like Jimmy got a tech, like somebody else got a tech, I think even Taj Gibson got a tech. Jimmy was upset, right? That Coach Hoiberg ain’t get a tech.”
“Coach Hoiberg is like, ‘Jimmy this starts with me and you, what’s going on?’ And then Jimmy goes, well, one, I think you’re soft. Two, I don’t like you. And he didn’t even get to three and Coach Hoiberg was like, well then, f— you Jimmy. And Jimmy’s like, oh, it’s f— me now, you wanted to know what I felt.” (1:02:00)
Reflecting on his time with the Bulls, Carter-Williams described it as the “craziest season” he had ever been a part of, primarily due to the palpable discord between Butler and Hoiberg. The tension reached a boiling point early in the season, culminating in a heated team meeting.
Carter-Williams recalled a specific incident that highlighted the extent of the animosity. During a game where the referees’ decisions were questionable, several Bulls players, including Butler and Taj Gibson, received technical fouls. Butler was particularly frustrated that Hoiberg didn’t stand up for the team by getting a technical foul himself. This frustration boiled over in the team meeting.
In the meeting, Fred Hoiberg attempted to address the team’s issues, starting with his relationship with Jimmy Butler. Hoiberg began by directly asking Butler what was going on between them. Butler responded bluntly, expressing his honest feelings by telling Hoiberg that he thought he was soft and that he didn’t like him.
Before Butler could continue, Hoiberg interrupted with a strong retort, which led Butler to point out that Hoiberg had asked for his honest opinion. The exchange highlighted the tension and lack of mutual respect between the two.
This confrontation between Butler and Hoiberg epitomized the discord within the team. Carter-Williams emphasized how this animosity impacted the locker room atmosphere, describing it as “bad” and full of upset players.
The 2016-17 season was indeed tumultuous for the Bulls. They ended the regular season with a 41-41 record, barely making it to the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite the internal strife, the team managed to reach the playoffs, but their run was short-lived, losing to the Boston Celtics in six games.
Hoiberg’s tenure with the Bulls ended abruptly after a disappointing 5-19 start to the 2018-19 season. While Butler’s hard-nosed approach and high expectations may have clashed with Hoiberg’s coaching style, the incident underscores the intense pressures and emotions that can simmer beneath the surface in professional sports.
Carter-Williams’ account provides a rare glimpse into the challenges of managing star players and the complexities of maintaining team cohesion in the high-stakes world of the NBA.
That 2016-17 Bulls Season Could Have Been Special
The 2016-17 Chicago Bulls season had the potential to be something special. With a roster featuring Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, and Jimmy Butler, the team had a mix of veteran experience and dynamic talent. Despite a season filled with internal discourse and struggles, the Bulls showed glimpses of greatness that hinted at a deeper playoff run.
Throughout the regular season, the Bulls demonstrated their capability to compete with the best in the Eastern Conference. They swept the Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0), the defending champions, in their regular season series. Additionally, they split their series with the Boston Celtics (2-2), who finished the season as the top seed in the East.
These achievements were not mere flukes; they highlighted the Bulls’ potential to challenge the top teams. The Bulls also ranked fifth in the league in defensive efficiency, showcasing their ability to stifle opponents and control games from the defensive end.
As the playoffs began, the Bulls faced the Celtics, who had surprisingly secured the number one seed. The Bulls came out strong, winning the first two games on the Celtics’ home court, signaling a potential upset in the making.
The chemistry between Rondo, Wade, and Butler seemed to be clicking at the right moment, and their playoff experience was shining through. However, the series took a drastic turn when Rondo suffered an injury after Game 2.
Without Rondo, the Bulls lost their floor general and primary playmaker. The Celtics capitalized on this, winning four consecutive games to eliminate the Bulls from the playoffs. The injury to Rondo was a critical blow to the Bulls’ chances, as his leadership and playmaking were integral to their early success in the series.
Had Rondo remained healthy, the 2016-17 Bulls might have continued their strong playoff push. Their regular-season success against the top teams in the East indicated they had the potential to go deeper into the playoffs. Unfortunately, injuries and internal conflicts prevented this team from reaching its full potential, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
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