Jimmy Butler: Embiid and Simmons Were Not The Issue
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Sharp, Jimmy Butler spoke on his relationship with the Sixers’ all-star pair; Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
“I didn’t have a problem with either one of them,” he says. “Still talk to those dudes. I wish them the absolute best. A career of great health, make as much money as you can, win as many championships as you can. I did not have a problem with any of those guys. It just didn’t work the way that we wanted it to work. That’s life. Not everything pans out the way you want it to pan out. But you learn and you move on from it.”
I believe this 100%.
Jimmy always seems to speak his mind, even when he knows it will get him in trouble. The person he did not have a strong relationship with, was Brett Brown.
I am new to the “Brown era is over” narrative. Obviously, during the process years, Brett never had the right pieces in place to show you what he really had coaching wise. It was only fair he got a good shot at coaching the team with a complete roster. Recent stories like Glenn Robinson not being explained his role, or Embiid feeling like he needs to “Grow up” make me reconsider. Now, it’s clear that Jimmy and Brett were not on the same page.
Two months into his Sixers tenure, Jimmy Butler challenged Brett Brown and his role in the offense.
Butler has expressed a desire to teammates to play in more traditional pick-and-roll and isolation sets, rather than trying to find his place in the Sixers’ free-flowing offense, league sources said. In searching for answers, Butler has met privately with Brown and his coaching staff, as well as general manager Elton Brand, league sources told ESPN.
Butler’s sluggish assimilation into the Sixers environment is causing some concern about his long-term viability and fit with the organization, league sources said.
Nobody truly knows what contract was offered to Jimmy this offseason, but clearly, the dollar sign didn’t matter for him. He had this to say when talking about his decision to go to the Heat.
“The culture they have here just fits me,” he says. “That’s what [this summer’s decision] came down to.”
If we are going to be moving forward with a coach who’s “Culture” is making Joel feel like he has to stop trash-talking, or new players coming in and not understand their role on the floor, are we making a mistake? On top of that, it is clear to me that most players that sign with us begin to quickly regress. Most notably in Tobias Harris and Al Horford. We can’t even get up for a road game.
We want and need guys like Butler and Embiid to bring us home the championship we so desperately covet.
Everyone in Philadelphia loved Jimmy while he was here. And when he decided not to stay, a LOT of the fanbase went after him, including me. Now I have to sit back and ask myself:
Was I wrong? Can I blame Butler for wanting to leave?
I would like you to ask yourself the same questions.
