Wolves fans greets, cheer Butler before Minnesota's home opener

Timberwolves fans greeted Jimmy Butler with hearty boos before Minnesota's home opener on Friday night, a 131-123 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Timberwolves fans greeted Jimmy Butler with hearty boos before Minnesota's home opener on Friday night, a 131-123 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they were chanting a different tune not long afterwards.

Butler, who has demanded a trade amid reports of dissatisfaction with some of his younger teammates and is making it known that he won't re-sign with the team, scored 33 points and added seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

By the midpoint of the second quarter, fans were chanting "M-V-P" when Butler came to the foul line.

In the past week, when Butler has had heated arguments with teammates at one practice and continued his verbal criticism against the front office, he even encouraged fans to express their dissatisfaction with him over his dispute with the team.

"Sure. Go ahead, boo me," Butler said at one point. "It ain't going to change the way I play. That's going to make me smile more. So please, come on with it."

In the Wolves' season-opening 112-108 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday night, Butler began filling in the stat sheet, finishing with 23 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Afterwards, he said that if a trade "comes to be, it comes to be, there's nothing I can do about that." Butler added, "In the meantime, I've got to figure out a way to help us win some games."

While still with Bulls in 2016, Butler signed a five-year, $92.3 million contract that has two more years remaining. He can opt out after this season.

 

(With inputs from agencies.)