How Jimmy Butler Exposed The NBA Media

They tried to label him a locker room cancer because he wanted it more than everyone else. The last time Chicago did anything meaningful, it was with Jimmy Butler. The last time Minnesota was a winning franchise and made the playoffs was with Jimmy Butler. The last time the Sixers had a REAL shot at a winning a title, it was with Jimmy Butler. Then, he goes to Miami and makes it to the finals in his first year. The reality is Jimmy’s only goal is to win, and that rubs people the wrong way when that isn’t their #1 priority.

It's funny. Everything the media criticized him for was what made me a fan. Especially that story of him taking 3rd stringers against starters lol.

Imagine calling a player who wants his millionaire teammates, who got that from a skill, to work hard on that skill and perform, a clubhouse cancer. That man is a leader, and he has shown up when it matters most.

This guy beat the t-wolves starters with a team of third stringers. That's absolutely hilarious, I love it

A "problematic" child who still went through high school, went to university, gets drafted and an NBA star. That's focus. Easily could've been a stat.

Butler's a real one, he's a hardworker and a true competitor

It's baffling the media actually thought that story about JB and the third stringers made him look bad. That story will probably be the most cherished memory from his career. truly defines him as a player. Plus it gave us one of my favorite Game of Zones episodes

Coming back to this video after the finals and you were absolutely right. NBA media buried that man alive from 2016-2020 but now they see why he is the way he is. After CHI he played for two teams with entitles young stars and no winning culture. He finally goes to MIA and becomes one of the best players in the world and is surrounded by guys that want to work just as hard as he does. If anybody in the league deserves a ring it’s Jimmy Buckets.

“You can’t win without me” considering he left and made crazy playoff run one after the other, and the wolves since have yet to make the playoffs…. Yeah jimmy was right the whoooole time

I’m so happy that Jimmy found his way to the Miami Heat. He’s the absolutely perfect player for their team’s system and their finals run in 2020 proved that.

A great leader, he really just wanted all his teammates to push their limits and improve like him. I'm glad he found the right culture at Miami

Here after the game 5 win. Jimmy is HIM.

Butler is the type of player that wants to win and needs everyone around him to have that mind set or you will have problems

Jordan In Private: “That’s my boy!”

As a Bulls fan I really hate that we didn’t build around Jimmy. He’s been my favorite player in the league since that 2015 season, and seeing all that he’s doing in Miami makes me wonder what could’ve been

Coming back to this video after the Heat beat the Bucks 4-1 this season is fantastic. Jimmy Butler is such a great player, and he is both a good and willing leader. Inspiring a culture of self-belief works wonders, and I think that can be seen so much in this last series. The Heat had no business even competing with the best team in the league, especially down Tyler Herro and Oladipo. Yet, they won. Of course he absolutely killed the Bucks offensively, but the team played incredibly hard and played like they knew they could win. That Gabe Vincent 3 to close the gap in Game 5 is just proof of that to me. Butler’s post-game interviews reveal something else: he believes that his team is what caused them to win. And that’s why they were able to win. Giannis being out didn’t change anything considering how the games with him played out. When Adebayo fouled out, the backups stepped up. Cody Zeller probably didn’t expect to play, but he came in and had an immediate impact. That’s a team, that’s a winning mentality. Having such a great coach is, of course, a massive help. But Butler visibly fuels the Heat as a team. I’m a Nuggets fan, and I cannot wait to see him continue to win.

The bubble playoffs were made for guys like Jimmy. No distractions, no "home court advantage". Just your team vs the opposing team in a game of basketball

Jimmy is the last of a dying breed. He got that Kobe, MJ mentality where they're harsh to teammates that they don't believe are working hard enough but still got your back

Jimmy Butler is the physical manifestation of "talk the talk walk the walk".

Honestly Jimmy being hard on his teammates makes perfect sense. Jimmy didn't get offers from big colleges, he had to work through junior college before getting a D1 offer, he was picked 30th and played garbage minutes his first year in the NBA and there was very little expectations for him. Every success he's had so far is because he works harder than anyone, notice how the sports media focuses on him rubbing teammates the wrong way and NEVER about his work ethic? Cause was the work horse who gave 110% in practice and in games and he expected that same effort from his teammates. And that's the key part when he says his team is "lazy" or not putting "effort" he wasn't sitting on his ass complaining, he lead by example by being the first guy in/last guy out and doing personal workouts and drills on top of the team schedule. Jimmy had to grind to be where he is and I don't think it's too much too ask that his teammates who've been scouted since they were 12 and were drafted in the top 10 (ie expected to be stars from day 1) to put in the same kind effort he does