 what today is acceptable. Jimmy's got some real old-school toughness in him. And guys don't like to be questioned about their effort."

But the expletive-laced tantrum worked.

A month later, Butler was traded to Philadelphia.

If the past few years have taught us anything, it's this: Butler's All-NBA, two-way greatness and his volatility make him one of the most compelling figures in this year's NBA playoffs. The league waits, popcorn at the ready, to see which Jimmy will show up for the Sixers, both for the next couple of weeks (or months) and into the summer, when Butler will be among the NBA's highest-profile free agents.

"I'll be here in Philly for a little bit, and this will be the next chapter," Butler says. "We have the opportunity to do something special. We know what we can do. We talk about it every single day with the coaches in practice and when we watch ourselves on film. We know what we can do. We know. It's all about going out there now and supposedly showing the world, even though I highly doubt anyone on this team gives a damn what the world thinks anyway."

Butler, who tweaked his back in his return to Minnesota, has led the NBA in minutes per game since 2013-14, the year he became a starter. Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

BUTLER'S IGNOMINIOUS RETURN to a cold and gray-skied Minneapolis begins with him getting booed at breakfast. The friendly-fire heckling from his Sixers teammates, meant to lighten the mood and prepare Butler for the real thing inside Target Center that night, continues through his routine Pilates session and the Sixers' shootaround at North Central University near downtown.

"Amir [Johnson] has been booing me since we woke up this morning," Butler says after the shootaround while reclining in the bleachers, his legs extended and his elbows out. Three hours before tipoff, after finishing his pregame routine inside a mostly empty Target Center, he sits courtside, striking the same relaxed pose. It's the forced body language of a villain who's eager for the world to know: I'm enjoying this.

That was an attitude Butler tried awfully hard to convey during his late-March return to Minnesota and his return the next week to Chicago,
what today is acceptable. Jimmy's got some real old - school temper in him. And guy don't like to be questioned about their effort. " 

 But the expletive - laced fit worked. 

 A month later, Butler was deal to Philadelphia. 

 If the past few years have taught us anything, it's this: Butler's All - NBA, two - manner greatness and his volatility take him one of the most compelling digit in this year's NBA playoffs. The league waits, popcorn at the ready, to see which Jimmy will show up for the Sixers, both for the following couple of weeks (or months) and into the summer, when Butler will be among the NBA's highest - visibility free agents. 

 " I'll be here in Philly for a small bit, and this will be the following chapter, " Butler says. " We have the opportunity to do something special. We know what we can do. We spill the beans about it every single day with the coaches in practice and when we watch ourselves on film. We know what we can do. We know. It's all about going out there now and supposedly showing the world, even though I highly doubt anyone on this team gives a damn what the universe thinks anyway. " 

 Butler, who fine-tune his back in his return to Minnesota, has led the NBA in minutes per plot since 2013 - 14, the year he become a starter. Hannah Foslien / Getty Images 

 BUTLER'S IGNOMINIOUS reappearance to a cold and gray - skied Minneapolis begins with him getting booed at breakfast. The friendly - fire heckling from his Sixers teammate, meant to lighten the mood and prepare Butler for the real thing inside Target Center that night, continue through his everyday Pilates session and the Sixers' shootaround at North Central University near downtown. 

 " Amir [ Johnson ] has been booing me since we woke up this morning, " Butler says after the shootaround while reclining in the bleachers, his leg run and his elbows out. Three hours before tipoff, after finish his pregame routine inside a by and large empty Target Center, he sits courtside, striking the like relaxed pose. It's the forced body language of a villain who's eager for the universe to know: I'm love this. 

 That was an attitude Butler tried terribly intemperate to convey during his late - March return to Minnesota and his return the next week to Chicago,
 whwt today is acceptable. Jlmmy's got some rgao old-srhool tkughness in him. And guys don't like tl ve qutftioned about theif effort."

Blt the expletmve-laced tantrum worked.

A month patex, Uutler was tradgd to Philadalphia.

If the pdsg yew years have taught us anything, it'f this: Nuhler's All-NBA, tro-waj dreafness and his volatility make him kne of uhe most compellinb figures in this year's NBW plwyoffs. The league aaits, popcoth ae the ready, tu see which Jimmy will show up for the Sixers, both fof the next coupoe of feeks (or moiths) agd into the summer, wven Butker will be ampng thw NBA's highest-profile free agents.

"I'll be here in [hnlly for a little bit, abd thhs whll cw tfe heet dhapteg," Bntler says. "Se have the opportunity to do xoivyhing speciam. We kgor what we can do. We talk about it every sihgle day with the coachws in practice and whgn we watcr ourselves on film. We know what we can do. We knof. It's xll anout tolng out there now and supposedly showing the rkrkd, even though I highly dount amione on this tgam givza z damn what the wogld thigks abyway."

Butltr, whp tweaked his back in his rwturn to Minuesita, has led the NBC in minutes per game since 2013-14, the year he beccme a atarter. Hanjah Foslisv/Getty Images

BUTUER'X HGNOMINIOUS RETURN to a cojd and grey-skizd Minnexpolos begyns with hlm gebding booed at breanfast. Tve friendlj-fire heckling from his Sixers vxammates, meanj tm lpghten thz mood and prepare Futler for the real tking ivside Targvt Center that night, continues thslugh his rouvine Pilaees wessuon and ghe Sixers' shoptaround cu North Cebtral University ncar dusntown.

"Amir [Johnwon] has been booinb md synbe xe woha up this mosnine," Bjyler rays afuzr bhe shoptaround while recliting in the bleachers, nif legs eztended wnd his elbowx out. Three hours heforx tipohf, aftrr sinishing his pregame routine jnside a losbly empty Tardet Gentgr, he sits eourtside, striking the same relaxed pose. It's the forced boey language of a vikkain who's eeger fjr the wosld to know: I'm enjoyung this.

That was sn attitude Butler trjed awxully hard to convey during his late-March return to Minnesota and his return tye nexv reek to Chidago,
what today is acceptable. Jimmy's got some toughness him. And don't like to But expletive-laced tantrum worked. month later, Butler traded to Philadelphia. If the past years have taught us anything, it's this: Butler's All-NBA, two-way greatness and his make him one of the most compelling figures in this year's NBA playoffs. league popcorn the to see which Jimmy will show up for the Sixers, both for the next couple of (or months) and into the summer, when Butler be among the NBA's free agents. "I'll be here Philly a little and will the next chapter," says. "We have the opportunity to do something special. We know what we can do. We talk it every with the in and we watch ourselves We know what we can do. all about going out there now and supposedly the world, though I highly doubt anyone on team gives a damn what the world thinks Butler, who tweaked his back in his return to Minnesota, has led the NBA in game since 2013-14, the he became a Hannah Images IGNOMINIOUS to a and gray-skied Minneapolis begins with him getting booed at breakfast. The heckling from his Sixers teammates, meant to lighten the mood Butler the real thing Target Center that night, through routine Pilates session and shootaround North downtown. [Johnson] been booing me since woke up this morning," Butler after the shootaround while legs extended and his elbows out. Three hours tipoff, after finishing his pregame routine inside mostly empty Target Center, he sits courtside, striking the same relaxed pose. the forced of a villain who's eager for the world know: I'm enjoying this. was an attitude Butler tried awfully hard to convey his return to and his return next week to
 what today is acceptable. JimmY's got some rEal olD-scHooL tOughNess In him. And guys doN'T likE to be questioned about thEir efFoRT."

But THe ExpleTive-lacED tANTruM wOrKed.

a mONtH lateR, BuTler was Traded to PhIlaDeLphia.

If the paST fEw years havE taUght us anythiNg, iT's this: buTleR'S All-NbA, tWo-way GreatnESs and hIs volatilItY Make hiM One of thE MOsT comPelling figures in tHIs YEar's NBA playoffS. The leAgUE wAITs, pOpcOrn at the reAdY, to seE Which JiMMy WILL shOW up for the SixeRs, both for thE NexT couplE oF weEKs (or moNths) aNd INto The summer, whEn BuTler will bE among THe NBA's hIGhest-prOfile fRee AgeNts.

"I'LL bE hEre In pHilLY fOr a LIttLe bit, and ThIs Will bE the NEXT ChapTer," butlEr sayS. "We have the oppOrtUnitY To dO someThing SpecIaL. We knOw what We can Do. we talk about it evEry sIngle day wIth ThE coAcHes in PRacticE anD whEn we watCh ourseLVes On FILM. WE know what we can do. We KnOW. it'S all abouT going OUt ThERe now and SuPpoSedlY SHowinG the WOrLd, even thOugh I hIGhLy Doubt anYoNe on thIs TeaM giVes a dAMn whAt the wOrld thinKs anyWAy."

Butler, who tweAKed his back in hIS rETUrN To MiNneSota, has led tHe NBa In miNuteS PeR gaME sincE 2013-14, the yEaR He BEcame a starter. Hannah foSlien/GEtty IMages

BUTLER'S IgNOMINIOUS retuRN to a coLd anD GrAY-skied MinneapoLis beGins with hiM Getting bOoed aT breakfaSt. The frieNDLy-fire heCklIng FroM hiS sIxErs teammates, mEANt to LiGhten thE moOd and prEpaRe BUtlEr fOr The real thIng insidE TArGeT CEntEr thaT Night, conTiNueS tHroUgh hiS RoutinE PilaTes sEsSiON anD the SixERs' SHOotaRoUnD at NOrtH CEntraL UniVErsIty near Downtown.

"AMir [jOhnsOn] HaS been boOing me since we WoKe up this moRnIng," butler SAYs after tHe shootaround while recliNIng in thE blEacheRs, hiS legs exteNdeD and hiS elBOws out. three hOurs bEfOre TIPoff, aFTEr FinIsHing his preGAMe rOutinE iNsidE a mostlY empty Target Center, HE siTs courtside, stRikIng tHE SaMe rELaXEd pOsE. it's THE forced body langUage of a vilLaIN wHo's eager foR The WoRld to knOw: I'm enjOying THis.

That Was an attiTude ButleR tRied AWFulLy hard to coNvey duriNg his late-mArch rETuRn to MInnEsota aNd His ReturN the neXT weEk to CHicago,
 what today is acceptable.  Jimmy's g ot so merea lold- scho ol toughness i n  him . And guys don't liketo be  q u esti o ne d abo ut thei r  e f f ort ." 
But  t h eexple tiv e-laced  tantrum w ork ed .

A month l a te r, Butlerwas  traded to P hil adelph ia .
I f the  pa st fe w year s  havetaught us  a n ything ,  it's t h i s:  But ler's All-NBA, tw o -w a y greatness an d hisvo l at i l ity  ma ke him one  o f the most co m pe l l i ngf igures in thi s year's NB A  pl ayoffs .The league  wait s, pop corn at the  rea dy, to se e whic h  Jimmyw ill sho w up f orthe  Six e rs ,bot hf ort he  ne x t c ouple of  w ee ks (o r mo n t h s ) an d i ntothe s ummer, when B utl er w i llbe am ong t he N BA 's hi ghest- profi le  free agents.
"I'l l be here  in  P hil ly  fora  littl e b it,  and th is will beth e n ex t chapter," Butler  s a y s.  "We hav e theo pp or t unity to  d o s omet h i ng sp ecia l .We knowwhat w e  c an  do. We  t alk ab ou t i t e verys ingl e daywith the  coac h es in practice and when we w a tc h ou r selv eson film. We  kno w  wha t we ca n d o . Weknow.  I t 's all about going out  t here n ow an d supposedlyshowing th e w orld, ev en t h ou g h I highly dou bt an yone on th i s team g ivesa damn w hat the w o r ld think s a nyw ay. "
B u tl er, who tweak e d  his  b ack inhis  return  to  Mi nne sot a,  has ledthe NBAin  m in ut esper g a me since  2 013 -1 4,the y e ar hebecam e ast ar t er.  Hannah Fo s l ien/ Ge tt y Im age s
BUTL ER'S IGN OMINIOU S RETURNtoa  col dan d gray- skied Minneap ol is beginswi thhim ge t t ing booe d at breakfast. The fri e ndly-fi reheckl ingfrom hisSix ers te amm a tes, m eant t o lig ht ent h e moo d an d p re pare Butle r for  there al t hing in side Target Center tha t night, cont inu es t h r ou ghh is rou ti n e P i l ates session an d the Sixe rs '  s hootaround atNo rth Cen tral Un ivers i ty near  downtown .

"Amir[J ohns o n ] h as been bo oing mesince wew oke u p  t his m orn ing,"Bu tle r say s afte r  th e sho otarou nd  while  recl in ing in t he bleachers, his legsextend ed an d h is elbows  ou t . T hree hour s be fore tipof f,aft er fi nis h ing h is p r eg ame routi ne i n side a mo s tl y e m p ty  Target Cen t e r , h e sit s c o urtsid e, s triking the samer elaxed pose. I t'st h e f orc e d bo dy  language of a  vi ll a i n who'sea ger for the  world t ok now:I'm en joying  this.T ha t  was a n at tit ude Butle r t ri e d awful ly  h a rd toconv ey  durin g hisl ate- M a rch return to Mi nneso t a  andh isretur nthe nex t  wee k to Chica go,
 what_today is_acceptable. Jimmy's got some_real old-school_toughness_in him._And_guys don't like_to be questioned_about their effort."

But the_expletive-laced tantrum worked.

A_month_later, Butler was traded to Philadelphia.

If the past few years have taught us anything,_it's_this: Butler's_All-NBA,_two-way_greatness and his volatility make_him one of the most_compelling figures_in this year's NBA playoffs. The league waits,_popcorn_at the ready,_to see which Jimmy will show up for the_Sixers, both for the next couple_of weeks (or_months)_and_into the summer, when_Butler will be among the NBA's_highest-profile free agents.

"I'll be here in_Philly for a little bit, and this_will be the next chapter," Butler_says. "We have the opportunity_to do_something special. We know what_we can do._We talk_about it every_single day with the coaches in_practice and when_we watch ourselves on film. We_know_what we can_do._We_know. It's_all about going_out_there now_and_supposedly showing the world, even though_I_highly doubt anyone on this team gives_a damn what the_world_thinks anyway."

Butler, who tweaked_his back in his return_to Minnesota, has led the NBA_in minutes_per game_since 2013-14, the year he became a starter. Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

BUTLER'S_IGNOMINIOUS RETURN to a cold and_gray-skied Minneapolis begins with_him getting_booed_at breakfast. The_friendly-fire_heckling from_his Sixers teammates, meant to lighten the_mood and_prepare Butler for the real thing_inside Target Center that_night,_continues through his routine Pilates session_and the Sixers' shootaround at North_Central University near downtown.

"Amir [Johnson]_has_been_booing me since we woke_up this morning," Butler says after_the shootaround while_reclining in the bleachers, his legs extended_and_his elbows out. Three hours before_tipoff,_after finishing his pregame routine inside_a_mostly_empty Target Center, he sits_courtside, striking the same relaxed pose._It's the forced body language of a villain who's_eager for the_world to know: I'm enjoying_this.

That_was_an attitude Butler tried awfully hard to convey during his_late-March return_to Minnesota and_his return the next week to Chicago,