In this episode of the Draymond Green Show, former NBA guard Jeff Teague sits down with host Draymond Green to recount the internal drama that unfolded within the Minnesota Timberwolves during Jimmy Butler’s tenure. Teague explains that the root of the tension was Butler’s push for a max contract, not personal animosities toward Karl‑Anthony Towns (often called “KAT”) or other teammates. He describes the infamous practice where Butler publicly called out teammates, the shifting power dynamics as Butler tried to position himself as the team’s star, and the resulting friction with the younger KAT and other players. Teague details how the team’s performance improved when Butler took over, but also how his demanding attitude alienated teammates. The conversation moves to the contract extension saga: after KAT’s extension was approved, Butler demanded his own, leading to a standoff with GM Scott Layden (referred to as “Tibbs”). When the organization refused, Butler threatened to leave, ultimately resulting in a meeting, a public tweet announcing his exit, and his eventual trade. Throughout, Teague offers candid reflections on the locker‑room atmosphere, his own role, and the broader lesson that money and ego can destabilize a franchise.
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Welcome to the brand new Draymond Green Show YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any of our content. I've heard you talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves practice with Jimmy.
Yeah.
Where Jimmy kind of called out everybody. You just kind of mentioned it in the sense that he took guys and beat everybody.
Yeah.
Was there always tension? That day is infamous and everybody knows about that day. But like the guys in the locker room are still the same guys. Was there always that type of tension amongst that group? Because I mean, let's just face it. Some guys are a little softer than others.
Nah, it wasn't that. Like it really was based off of Jimmy wanted to be paid. That's where it came from. Like it wasn't about Cat. It wasn't about Wig. It wasn't about me, Taj. D-Rose, none of that. It was about him getting paid. And when he came here, Tibbs told him like, yo, we gonna take care of you. So he was like, I'm gonna make— I'll never forget Jimmy called me and was like, yo, come to Minnesota. And I'm like, all right. He got Taj to come. All right, we come to Minnesota. Jamal to come. We all coming. He was like, we gonna win, bro. He was like, we gonna be a top 5 seed in the West. We gonna win. We gonna shock the world. People don't believe me. He was like, I'm that good. I was like, damn, Jimmy, I'm good too. Like, you know what I mean? He like, nah, I'm that good, bro. I'm gonna change this whole thing around. Damn, we forgot about Cat and Wiggs. Like, we wasn't even thinking about them until we got to practice and I seen Cat and I'm like, "Hey, he the best player on the team." And Jimmy like, "He the best one." Then I'm like, "Wigg dynamic too." He be like, "Cat gonna average 25, Wigg gonna average 20-something. I'm gonna average like 18." He was like, "You gonna get your 14 ties, gonna get his 12, 13, whatever." He was like, "But them, they gonna be the main focal point. I'm gonna do all the little things." I'm like, "Cool." First 2 games of the season, we wasn't looking that good. Jimmy come in the locker room, he was like, "Fuck this team." I gotta be me. I gotta take over this whole thing. He start killing. We go on this run, we start winning games. And he just started like, they ain't the ones. Like they don't got it. And I'm like, damn Jimmy, they got it. Like, he like, they ain't got it. They don't believe like we believe. They used to losing. I don't know how to lose. I ain't used to losing. They used to losing. And he just started being him. And the whole thing changed. We started believing in him. But you know, when somebody got that kind of willpower, some guys can't handle that. Like I'm all in, 'cause it wasn't bothering me. I'm like, "Shit, all right, dude, you the star." Facts. I'ma follow you, you the star. But KAT was still young. You know, Wig, you play with Wig, Wig ain't tripping.
At all, not one bit.
He looking at me like, "I like Jimmy." So Jimmy heard that and was like, "I'm rocking with Wig too." But KAT, KAT liked Jimmy, but the way he used to talk to people, KAT just really couldn't handle it. Jimmy get hurt. We went from 3 to the 8th seed, like fighting to get in the playoffs. Jimmy realized that. Jimmy came back for like 3 games. We get in the playoffs. Boom, we losing the first round, whatever. Jimmy was still hurt. That summer, Jimmy like, y'all see when I'm out what the team look like? When I'm in, what we look like? Take care of me. I wanna get paid right now. But it was KAT turn to get the extension. We like, it's just Cat's turn, bro. Your turn next. He like, nah, my turn now. Like Tibbs calling me like, can you just tell Jimmy we're gonna play him next year? Jimmy said no, now or trade me.
Shit.
Tibbs like, I can't do it. I was like, pay him, Tibbs. Tibbs like, I can't do it. I literally can't do it. Jimmy was like, I'm out. We have a meeting. I'm like, Jimmy, please. I'm calling. I don't even know why I was calling him. 'Cause I didn't even care. I'm being real. Look, this is just me being real. I didn't care. I'm like, Jimmy, if you wanna leave, you gonna leave. I just signed up. I'm mad you brought me here 'cause I could have stayed in Indiana. But if you gonna leave, leave, bro. All right. We gonna hoop regardless. I love you to death, but I can't be begging no man to stay somewhere. I don't care that much. He like, yeah, I'm out, T. I'm like, all right. We have a meeting. Taj like, nah, Jimmy, you can't do that to me. He was, I'm gonna have a meeting. If anybody tell anybody, this is how Jimmy was talking to us. Jimmy, you got me messed up, man. He said, if anybody tell anybody, about this meeting, I'm out. I bust out laughing like, bro, all right. We leave the meeting, bro. Literally Jimmy tweets, I'm out. And we like, from what? Nobody said nothing. Like he having a meeting where he doing the show with Rachel Nichols, bro. He about to talk about this. Jimmy, you crazy as hell, bro. But I love Jimmy though. He crazy. But it was just money.
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