Golden State Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins says he's been rooting for Miami Heat swingman Jimmy Butler in the 2020 playoffs and will continue to do so as the five-time All-Star heads to the NBA Finals for the first time in his career.
Butler and Wiggins were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017-18 and for a brief while in 2018-19. Jimmy reportedly had issues with Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. It's reportedly one of the main reasons the NBA star requested a trade from Minnesota prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, but not before Butler verbally abused Wiggins and Towns in a well-publicized practice.
However, it appears the beef between Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins was overblown, as Butler told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports in 2018-19 that he still talked to Wiggins after he was traded by Minnesota to the Philadelphia 76ers.
It's widely believed Butler had more beef with Towns, and Wiggins doesn't seem to have hard feelings:
Wiggins on Butler (1/2): "I've been rooting for them. Jimmy, he was a great teammate. Hell of a competitor. what he's brought over there, bringing those guys to the Finals, it's a huge accomplishment. It just shows what he can do."
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) September 28, 2020
Wiggins on Butler (2/2) "Even when he was in Minnesota, everyone forgets we were third in a very packed West before he got hurt. So he was capable and he went to a good team, Miami, and the rest is history."
(Thibs will see this answer and nod silently at the screen)
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) September 28, 2020
Behind Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves made the playoffs in 2018 for the first time since 2004. However, Minnesota lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round in five quick games.
Butler has found a permanent home with the Heat. He has the franchise in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, while the Timberwolves continue to be a walking disaster in the Western Conference.
Fortunately for Wiggins, he's no longer on the Timberwolves and is finally playing for an NBA contender in the Warriors, who will have Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson back next season. Golden State finished the 2019-20 season with the worst record in the NBA, but they will likely be back in the playoffs and contending next season with Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Wiggins leading the way.
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