Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler has a different kind of personality, so you shouldn’t be shock that the now star player didn’t back down one inch from his criticism of coach Fred Hoiberg on a public forum.
When asked about the comments following the Bulls’ loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Butler only regretting making his comments public.
According to The Chicago Tribune, he and Hoiberg met for more than an hour on Sunday, with the coach in agreement with some of Butler’s feelings at a team meeting.
“He said that he does have to hold everybody accountable. I have to help him with that,” Butler said. “I took the easy way out with my frustration. But I was never calling out my coach. I think he’s a hell of a coach. I think he’s done great through these 25 games.”
Hoiberg was hired this off-season to replace the uber intense Tom Thibodeau, and Butler believes Bull players are taking advantage of his easy-going approach.
“I believe in the guys in this locker room but I also believe we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times,” Butler said. “I’m sorry, I know Fred is a laid-back guy and I really respect him for that, but when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you have to get on guys—myself included.”
“I think it will all turn around for the better,” Butler said. “[Hoiberg] doesn’t have to change as a person. Now that we’ve addressed it, everybody knows what they have to do. Before it wasn’t addressed, everybody was maybe going through the motions.”
The Bulls are 15–11 and would be in an uproar if Hoiberg brought a similar, loud and intense approach to the locker room. They should be ashamed of themselves for taking advantage of Hoiberg’s laid back approach.