Jimmy Butler Called Out "Laid-Back" Fred Hoiberg

Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler spent four years playing under Tom Thibadeau, who was fired due to fractured relationships with the front office and players. The All-Star sounds like he enjoyed Thibs’ coaching style more than Fred Hoiberg’s.

Butler critiqued Hoiberg after the Bulls lost to the New York Knicks last night to fall to 15-10 on the year.

"“I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah,” Butler said. “But I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times. I’m sorry, I know Fred’s a laid-back guy, and I really respect him for that, but when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you got to get on guys, myself included. You got to do what you’re supposed to do when you’re out there playing basketball.” … “It’s not even about being coached a certain way for five years,” Butler said. “It’s making everybody do their job. We weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing, what we wrote up on that board before the game, and nobody spoke up about it. I did probably not enough times, but I think that he has to hold everybody accountable. From the No. 1 player all the way down to however many guys we got. You got to hold everybody accountable; everybody has to do their job. You win your matchup, you do your job, we win the game.”"

Butler has become a more important player for the Bulls both on the court and in the locker room during Derrick Rose’s absence-filled past few years. His decision to publicly call out his coach before the calendar hits Christmas could change things for the better or create a rift with Hoiberg.

It’s always interesting to see how situations like this are covered when coaches routinely identify players who need to play better. It’s likely a new spot for longtime Iowa State leader Hoiberg. College kids are much more reluctant to offer critiques than professionals.