Throughout his NBA career, Jimmy Butler has earned the reputation of being something of a rough teammate. It began in his final seasons with the Chicago Bulls and then really blew up with the Minnesota Timberwolves, when he took part in a dramatic practice session to prove a point and help force his way out. There were some rumblings of issues with the Philadelphia 76ers as well, though everything has been hunky-dory with the Miami Heat so far.
Speaking to The Athletic’s Michael Lee on a variety of topics, Butler was asked about his reputation as a bad guy in the league, and he said it doesn't affect him too much. In fact, Butler even went as far as to say that if he needs to be that guy for people, he’s fine with doing just that:
“I’ll be the bad guy. Why? Because I’m going to be the bad guy anyways,” Butler said. “I am. I’m going to be the bad guy. Somebody is going to be the bad guy. You can’t have all good guys. That’s not the way the media works. You’ve got to pick on somebody. Hey, I’m the one for you.”
Butler truly doesn't “give a damn” what people think of him. He thinks his teammates respect him and will have his back, just like he has their backs. It’s more likely than not that he isn’t a bad guy, but simply an extremely competitive one who can rub some people the wrong way with his brashness.
Whatever role Jimmy Butler is playing now, though, it seems to be working. The Heat are clicking during the early part of the season, and they look to be a true contender in the Eastern Conference.
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