Jimmy Butler’s bizarre and viral rant about Tom Thibodeau, Josh Hart, and the Knicks has yet to become a comparable discussion. drake and kendrick lamar.
Still, Thibodeau was clearly aware of Butler’s jab at him that went public earlier over the weekend. When asked about that after Sunday’s practice in Tarrytown, the Knicks coach echoed his former star’s words.
“Who? I don’t know him,” Thibodeau deadpans, adding with a smile as he walks out of the room. “But I’m going to beat the hell out of him.”
Butler, who did not play in the Heat’s first-round loss to the Celtics due to a knee injury sustained during the play-in tournament, said in a video posted to social media that if he had played, “Boston would be at home.” he said. In that series, he bizarrely added, “New York is probably going to be shitty at home.”
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Butler, a six-time All-Star with Thibodeau with the Bulls and Timberwolves, also said of the Knicks coach: Tis, I love you, but I want to beat you once and for all. you want me I don’t need you. It’s like a one-sided relationship. You love me and I love you, but I don’t love you, you know what I’m saying?
Butler’s Heat sent the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs a year ago.
Butler, 34, was also asked in the video about Hart, who made the series-winning 3-pointer in Game 6, when the Knicks beat the 76ers in the first round.
“Hmm, does that make sense to me?” Josh Hart? Come on,” Butler replied.
Hart, who averaged 16.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in 46.3 minutes in the first round, was surprised when he caught a stray ball from Butler.
“I don’t know why my name came up,” Hart said the day before Game 1 of the second round against the Pacers. “I’m here and I’m just excited, minding my own business and trying to have fun. That’s it.”
