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ESPN Report: Some Bulls Feel That Jimmy Butler Gets ‘Preferential Treatment’

By Michael Whitlow

Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts during the game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Bulls beat the Raptors 109-107. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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A recent report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard on some possible tension between Jimmy Butler and the rest of his Chicago Bulls teammates present another reason why this season needs to end as soon as humanly possible.

When the Bulls finish their season against the woeful, Sam Hinkie-less Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, let’s take this season, put it in a capsule and shoot it directly into the Sun.

A recent report from ESPN NBA insider Chris Broussard has brought some more possible issues within the Bulls organization revolving around Jimmy Butler. Broussard reported on Sunday night that Butler would not travel with the team for their game on Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a personal matter, but he would still play.

Butler not only didn’t miss the morning shootaround, he led the Bulls with 23 points and 11 assists in a meaningless 121-116 victory over the Pelicans on Monday night.

Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg mentioned that Butler’s later travel plans were excused, but according to Broussard, there’s “all types of dysfunction in Chicago”.

"Some players, and I’m not saying it wasn’t a family commitment, but there were some – I know at least one player in particular, a starter – who felt like he was a bit bothered by the fact that Jimmy wasn’t on the plane. And it was a misperception. He felt it was emblematic of a little bit of the preferential treatment that a lot of people say Butler’s been getting now that he’s emerged as the best players on the Bulls from the front office and things like that.There’s a division. There’s all types of dysfunction in Chicago. There’s kind of a division in that locker room.The younger players see Butler as the leader. He’s clearly been their best player the last two years. They see him as the leader.The other guys, the veterans who’ve been there, it’s not so much of disrespect of Jimmy, but they don’t see him as the team as the team leader. They remember when you were averaging two points a game.(Chris Broussard, ESPN.com)"

First thing’s first: Chris Broussard was the one to report this, so be careful how much stock you put into this.

Second, a starter was supposedly upset that Jimmy Butler didn’t fly with the team to New Orleans for a game that didn’t matter? The Bulls started Justin Holiday, Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Nikola Mirotic and Cristiano Felicio against the Pelicans. That tells you all you need to know about that game’s importance.

Third, he’s the Bulls’ best player. That pretty much should sum it up, because let’s not sit here and think Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen didn’t get “preferential treatment” during their playing days in Chicago.

Lastly, when will these types of rumors and reports surrounding the Bulls organization end? It’s like a never-ending soap opera with this franchise sometimes.

Next: What went wrong with Hoiball this season?

I don’t think anyone denies that there’s some issues in the Bulls organization. It’s been an ugly transition to the Fred Hoiberg era from the Tom Thibodeau era and it’s clear that the Bulls need a major shakeup to twist their fortunes around.

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