Jimmy Butler is an extremely unpopular figure among Minnesota Timberwolves fans for his ugly departure from the franchise in 2018. So, it wasn’t a surprise to see Butler being greeted with boos from the fans in Game 1 at the Target Center on Tuesday. The Golden State Warriors star claimed postgame that he didn’t have a problem with that, but warned fans not to cross the line.
“That doesn’t bother me,” Butler said. “But people do have to watch their mouth, It’s cool with the boos and all that stuff, but you calling people out of their names and all of that stuff, which I can hear.”
Butler’s Warriors teammate Buddy Hield asked him what was said, but he declined to share.
“I’m not going to repeat it,” Butler stated. “It’s not good. That’s unnecessary. The boos I get it, I understand. Let’s just keep it at that.”
This was the first game that Butler had played in Minnesota since Nov. 24, 2021. The fans have been itching to have a go at him, but it appears some went overboard.
Butler spent just over a season with the Timberwolves after they acquired him from the Chicago Bulls in 2017. He helped end their 13-year playoff drought in 2018 but then demanded a trade before training camp that year.
Butler made it clear he wouldn’t sign an extension with the Timberwolves and was hellbent on leaving. He would later show up at a practice session where he infamously beat the rest of the starters with third-string players.
The Timberwolves eventually granted Butler his wish 13 games into the 2018-19 season by moving him to the Philadelphia 76ers. He ended his career in Minnesota with averages of 22.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. We’re approaching a decade since Butler’s exit, but the fans still haven’t let go of their anger.
The Timberwolves fans would have been even more frustrated after this game, as the Warriors won 99-88. Stephen Curry had left the game in the second quarter due to a hamstring strain, and the hosts still ended up losing.
Butler had a role to play in that as he finished Game 1 with 20 points (7-20 FG), 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. The 35-year-old wasn’t quite at his best, but the Warriors still came away with the win.
Butler would have been thrilled to get one over his former team, but the job is far from done. The Warriors lead 1-0 and have snatched home-court advantage, but retaining it will prove to be difficult without Curry.
The Warriors will need some magic from Butler for that. We haven’t really seen “Playoff Jimmy” yet in this postseason, as the six-time All-Star is averaging 18.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game.
Butler hasn’t managed to hit the 30-point mark thus far in any game in these playoffs, and the Warriors will need a few of those in Curry’s absence. Will Butler be able to deliver? Time will tell.
Game 2 between the Warriors and Timberwolves is at Target Center on Thursday at 8:30 PM ET.
