Upon hearing about his trade all the way in Paris, where he is vacationing at the time, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jimmy Butler took to Instagram to pour out his thoughts to a Chicago Bulls fan base that meant the world to him through his six-year stint in the Windy City.
Butler posted a picture of him looking at the Chicago skyline, with a tear-jerking message to the city he called home since he was drafted as the last pick of the first round in the 2011 NBA Draft.
“Chicago, What can I say?! I truly struggle with the words because you've been so much more than just my home for the last 6 years, you've been my life! You've embraced me like a son and pushed me to get better every day, every season. I can honestly say that I have always been incredibly motivated to succeed; it's just the way I'm built. But I know I owe so much to the person I am now, and to the player that I've become, to you. You always pushed me to never give anything less than my absolute best night in, night out. That's what you expected. That's what you deserved. And, I hope you know that's what I dedicated my life to every time I walked into the facility or stepped on the floor of the United Center. Thank you to the entire Bulls organization and Reinsdorf Family for taking a chance on me in 2011 and for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love for such a great franchise. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I was drafted and when I played my first minutes. It's an experience that I wouldn't have wanted with any other team and I'm so thankful to you for giving me that opportunity. Chicago, I love you. Thanks for embracing a kid from Tomball like one of your own. On to a new home and a new organization. Thankfully, with some familiar faces! P.S. And probably most important! Thank you to everybody behind the organization that do not get the shine that they deserve!! Y'all are the real All-Stars!! – Jimmy G. Buckets”
Jimmy Butler's Instagram post is gonna make you cry. pic.twitter.com/cfgHum2fF9
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) June 23, 2017
Butler was hellbent on staying in Chicago after a myriad of rumors of him landing in different franchises — most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics jostling for his services.
The Bulls opted for a rebuild, swapping Butler and the 16th pick for Minnesota's Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the seventh pick of the draft.
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