Jimmy Butler reveals surprising fact about relationship with Knicks’ Tom Thibodeau

Including the New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau has been the head coach of three NBA teams. In July of 2020, New York announced that he would be the team’s new leader after he once served as an assistant coach from 1996-2003.

Before 2020, Thibodeau had spent time at the helm for the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. During his time with both organizations, there was a common thread. That thread was Jimmy Butler, who’s now with the Miami Heat.

Last Friday, the Heat beat the Knicks 115-100 at Madison Square Garden. Butler finished with 23 points and shot 45% from the field.

After the game, Butler was asked about Thibodeau. One would assume that the two would have at least a decent relationship after spending five and a half seasons together. However, Butler had a surprising response.

Jimmy Butler revealed Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t talk to him.

In 2018-19, Butler played in 10 games for Thibodeau and Minnesota before he was traded to Philadelphia. It was no secret that Butler wanted to leave the Timberwolves and that fact made him less popular than Thibodeau with the fanbase.

Thibodeau’s no stranger to getting booed, although it seemed like he was headed in the right direction after New York finished fourth in the East with a 41-31 record last year. Oh, how things have taken a turn since he was named the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year.

The coach is now questioned on a nightly basis and is in charge of a team that’s lost 15 of their last 18 games. Meanwhile, Butler is enjoying plenty of success with the No. 1 team in the East.

Thibodeau may fault Butler for what was an ugly split with Minnesota but the trade to the Sixers opened up the small forward’s path to the Heat. We all remember Miami’s epic run to the 2020 NBA Finals in the bubble.

We know that Butler was joking but maybe there’s some truth behind what he said about why the coach no longer speaks to him. Last Friday’s fourth-quarter collapse and eventual loss could be proof of that. The Knicks have fallen to the Heat twice this season and will play them one final time in Miami on Mar. 25.

Will Thibodeau make it a point to speak to Butler then? Eh, probably not. He has bigger things to worry about, like finding a way to keep his job.

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