Before joining the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler had an impressive run with the Miami Heat. He left a significant mark on the franchise. However, his path to Miami included stops at two inconsistent teams. One of those teams was the Philadelphia 76ers. Several years after leaving the franchise, Butler revealed what he believed was the Sixersā biggest issue.
According to NBA insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Jimmy Butler encountered a Philadelphia 76ers team that struggled with both accountability and a winning mentality upon his arrival.
āYou got to be able to talk to everybodyā¦As long as it was in the right direction toward winning, it shouldnāt matter how it comes across. Itās not that thereās malicious intent about it. You had some differences between players and coaches. You had some differences between players and players. And it was just, I mean, you kind of couldnāt talk to nobody,ā stated Jimmy Butler to Anthony Slater to The Athletic.
Butlerās comments shed light on the dysfunction that troubled the Philadelphia 76ers during his brief stint with the team. Despite having enough talent to contend at the highest level, the Sixers lacked the cohesion and leadership required to take the next step. This season, those same struggles have resurfaced. The 76ersā inconsistency has left them sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen during a NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 14, 2018 in Orlando, Florida.
Jimmy Butler opens up on Warriorsā accountability after joining the franchise
Now with the Golden State Warriors, Jimmy Butler finds himself in a drastically different environment, one built on communication, and a proven championship culture. The contrast between his past and present situations is evident. Butler even praised the Warriorsā approach to accountability.
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āSteph and Dray have been doing it their entire fā¦.g careerā¦You can talk how the hell you want to talk knowing that look, I donāt have a 10-minute window to get my point across. I got to get it across in 27 seconds before the timeout ends or weāre going to get a delay game or tech or something like that. Iām serious about it,ā confessed Butler.
Jimmy Butler has shown perhaps the most complete version of his game since joining the Warriors. He knows the team has serious plans to compete for an NBA championship. Playing alongside league legends like Draymond Green and Stephen Curry has helped him thrive. Butler has embraced his role and committed fully to the teamās goals. Just as he did with the Miami Heat, he is proving he can still be a key piece for a contender.
