NBA Draft 2018 y Pre-season

Screaming from the top of his lungs, Butler uttered taunts at his teammates such as “They ain’t [expletive]!” and “They soft!”, league sources said. Most of the players knew the invectives were directed at Towns and Wiggins, league sources said.

Butler naturally wasn’t in the best of shape, league sources said, but he held his own.

At one point, Butler found himself guarding Towns in the post and when the big man received the entry pass, Butler yelled, “He can’t do [expletive] against me!” and Towns ended up kicking the ball out, league sources said.

Neither Towns nor Wiggins confronted Butler at any point, league sources said

Some players were motivated by Butler’s theatrics, but others were distraught and speechless, and most notably Towns, league sources said.

“It depends on how you look at it,” Butler said. “Am I being tough on him? Yeah. Yeah. That’s who I am. I’m not the most talented player on the team. Who’s the most talented player on the team? KAT. Who’s the most god-gifted player on the team? Wiggs. Wiggs got the longest arms, biggest hands, can jump the highest, can run the fastest. But like, who plays the hardest? Me. I play hard. I play really hard. I put my body on the line every day in practice. Every day in the games.

“Everybody wants to talk about leadership,” Butler continued. “Everybody leads in different ways. That’s how I show I’m here for you. I want you to be great. I can tell when somebody’s on some BS because they’re jogging down the floor because they haven’t shot the ball. I’m gonna give it to you. I know you. That’s me. I know you. How many times have I jumped out of bounds and hit Wiggs in the corner for three? I know he misses it. Because I see him standing over there in the corner, and nobody looks him off it’s just they don’t know Wiggs like I know Wiggs. … Play hard. That’s it. Play for one another. Win. At all costs. The only reason you play this game is for these guys you suit up with.”