Philadelphia 76ers Rumors
“I don’t think bully is a good word,” Butler told ESPN. “I tell it how it is. Whenever I was in college, I had [Marquette coach] Buzz Williams to tell me how it was. I didn’t have a bunch of McDonald’s All Americans like [Calipari] has. So, he can look at it a different way. “
Butler paused, perhaps to consider ending the conversation. But he couldn’t — and didn’t. “He can call me a bully, but when [Calipari] sees me, I’m gonna confront him about it,” Butler continued. “If I’m a bully, I’m gonna bully him, too. I’ll tell him how I feel, just like I’d tell anyone else. “I don’t care if he’s some big head coach. I’m not bullying nobody. I’m just keeping it real. Some of these guys aren’t used to it. When you have as much talent as [Karl] has had throughout his life, guys don’t keep it real with him. I do.”
The hope is that rest and rehabilitation will be enough to take care of the problem, sources said, and prevent Butler from missing significant time. The Sixers are in the midst of a brutal stretch in their schedule that sees them face 12 consecutive teams with winning records, including a four-game West Coast trip to face the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings beginning Saturday.
Jessica Camerato: Joel Embiid will start tonight against the Rockets.
Serena Winters: Corey Brewer is starting in Jimmy Butler’s place tonight. #Sixers
