Tom Thibodeau has a unique perspective on Jimmy Butler’s latest act of defiance, but the coach said it’s none of his business.
“I love Jimmy, but I’m not his coach,” Thibodeau said. “I’ve got enough to worry about here.”
Butler was suspended indefinitely by the Miami Heat on Monday after abruptly leaving the team’s morning shootaround, reportedly as a response to news that he was removed from the starting lineup.
Butler has already demanded a trade — prioritizing the Phoenix Suns as a destination — and, although the Heat are amenable, dealing a highly paid 35-year-old and recurring headache is predictably evolving slowly.
The saga, as league sources said, is holding up other trade negotiations before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because Butler pulled a similar stunt in 2018 with the Timberwolves.
His coach was Thibodeau and Butler stormed out of a practice before publicly demanding a trade.
Asked Monday how Butler’s personality lends itself to such drama, Thibodeau repeated, “I have enough to worry about here.”
Jalen Brunson let Josh Hart off the hook.
After going back and forth about a potential wager for the NFC Championship game (Brunson is an Eagles fan, Hart supports the Commanders), the point guard said he didn’t make his teammate pay up.
They had discussed the loser showing up to MSG in Eagles or Commanders gear, depending on who won. The Eagles, of course, pummeled the Commanders.
“I let him live,” Brunson said. “I’m a good friend.”
The Knicks bench put up big numbers for a second straight game, combining for 50 points behind 14 apiece from Precious Achiuwa and Miles McBride.
“It’s just playing the right way, coming out, trusting each other, playing fast,” Achiuwa said. “I think a lot of that is playing fast in transition and taking advantage of what the defense gives us, shooting wide-open shots and everybody just sharing the ball.”
In terms of minutes distribution, there aren’t two more divergent teams than the Knicks and Grizzlies.
As well documented, the Knicks entered Monday with three players in the NBA’s top six in minutes per game and four of the NBA’s top five in total minutes.
The Grizzlies?
They had zero players averaging more than 30 minutes, as coach Taylor Jenkins built a system around speed and fresh legs.
“It’s not a magical number that we want to keep guys below 30. Sometimes it works out that way. But we definitely have leaned into more 10-man, especially 11-man rotations,” Jenkins said. “We want to be the most intense-playing team, the fastest-playing team. … Having more fresher bodies [helps that].”
