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With the Minnesota Timberwolves visiting the Chicago Bulls on Friday night at United Center, star shooting guard Jimmy Butler will officially make his return back to his old stomping grounds for the first time since he was traded over the summer.
After he spent the first six years of his NBA career in Chicago, what is his mindset going back to United Center for a game against his former team? According to an article written on Friday morning by Nick Friedell of ESPN, Butler says he wants to treat this just like any other game on the schedule.
“I'm fortunate to play basketball every day anyway, as that is my job. You know everybody wants to hear me say, “Oh, I'm so happy to be back,' this and that, no, I'm going to go in with a killer mindset like I do every day. I'm going to do what I do and try to lead this team to victory,” Butler said.
Timberwolves power forward Taj Gibson, one of Butler's closest friends since their days with the Bulls, also makes his return to Chicago tonight.
However, Gibson admits that his and Butler's time in Chicago is brought up quite often and this game will mean a little bit extra to them.
“We always talk about Chicago,” Gibson said. “Even when we're just regular going through plays, going through stuff, going through anything. Because I'm with the same coaching staff I had my whole career over there, we talk about that daily. Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. It was one hell of a time.”
In his first season in Minnesota, Butler is currently averaging 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game in 37.1 minutes of action per contest.
