Jimmy Butler says Tom Thibodeau is a different coach than he used to be

Butler said he didn’t like Thibbs during his younger days. Now, he sees his coach’s growth.

Jimmy Butler doesn’t use the word “hate” to describe his feelings towards other people. But while canoeing and camping in Minnesota with ESPN’s Sam Alipour, the Timberwolves forward said if he ever came close to hating anyone, it was Tom Thibodeau during Butler’s younger years in Chicago.

“I never use the word hate, but he was right there,” he said, gesturing about a two-inch difference between hatred and his past feelings toward Thibbs. “He never played me, and I wanted to play. Then finally, my time presented itself and I got to play. And I started to get a little bit of [a look like], ‘What’s up, Jimmy?’

“I was like, ‘Oh. Thibbs just spoke to me. I’m moving up.”

Butler’s come a long way from the raw, athletic rookie out of Marquette. The Bulls drafted him 30th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, and he worked himself into one of the NBA’s best two-way players. Butler won the Most Improved Player award in 2015 before he was named an All-Star starter last season en route to averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game in Chicago.

The Bulls moved on from their star last season, trading him to to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the draft pick that became Lauri Markkanen. The trade, however, reunited Butler with Thibodeau, who exited Chicago two summers ago.

Butler, who used to despise Thibbs years ago, now says his coach has grown over the years.

"I think he's really seeing the people aspect of [coaching],” Butler said. “Now, he's coming, he's laughing, he's joking around a little bit. He's asking, 'Hey, how's your wife? How are your kids?' That's a big part of this thing because you've got to understand, basketball is not the most important thing in my life. And I think he's starting to realize that."

If what Butler says has any truth, Thibodeau may have found coaching balance in Minnesota. The young Timberwolves are 7-3 in their first 10 games and have the third-best record in the Western Conference behind the Warriors and Rockets.

Butler also said his goal is an NBA championship, and that while the Warriors are a tough task, they aren’t unbeatable. You can watch the full ESPN interview here.