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Malika AndrewsESPN
MINNEAPOLIS — Jimmy Butler said he knew the boos were coming.
In his first game back at the Target Center since being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Butler was introduced first in the starting lineup. Fans young and old cupped their hands over their mouths and loudly jeered the four-time All Star.
“I don’t care about being loved all the time,” Butler said. “It’s no fun that way.”
Butler skipped past a line of his 76ers teammates, high-fiving them and laughing as he went, as the booing continued. Philadelphia center Amir Johnson mockingly joined in, giving him the double thumbs-down.
“He thrives under blankets of controversy,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said before the game. “I greatly respect it, and I think when you look at the high-level competitors, it is part of their DNA. It is certainly part of his DNA.”
Butler and Philadelphia got the last laugh Saturday, beating the Wolves, 118-109. Butler had 12 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Butler was traded to the Sixers from the Timberwolves in November, but he made it known he didn’t want to be part of the Minnesota organization months prior. Weeks of sitting out of practices, a fiery scrimmage during which he challenged teammates and front-office personnel, and very public discontentment followed Butler’s trade request. The locker room was an uncomfortable place to be.
Eventually, the Timberwolves relented and sent Butler and Justin Patton to the 76ers in exchange for Jerryd Bayless, Robert Covington, Dario Saric and a second-round draft pick. The Wolves subsequently fired Tom Thibodeau, the coach and president of basketball operations who had championed Butler and was instrumental in bringing him to Minnesota.
But when asked on Saturday morning what specifically led to him wanting out of Minnesota, Butler replied, “None of your business.”
He went on to say that he “got no ill will” toward Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, whom Butler had criticized during his Minnesota tenure.
In the two teams’ only other meeting since the trade, the Sixers soundly defeated the Wolves 149-107 in January at Philadelphia.
When Wolves players filed into the arena ahead of Saturday’s game, Butler was sitting outside of the Minnesota locker room. Butler enveloped Towns in a seemingly uncomfortable embrace. He also hugged Tyus Jones, Anthony Tolliver and Derrick Rose.
“Tyus, that’s my dog,” Butler said. “That’s family forever and ever. All in all, the whole organization has got some good people in it.”
Butler fist-bumped security guards whom he knew by name and greeted his former coaches.
“I wish them well health-wise, career-wise,” Butler said. “But I mean, I truly be locked in on the 76ers.”
By the time players were introduced, the Target Center arena was only sparsely filled.
Every time Butler touched the ball, the crowd booed.