Jimmy Butler’s bizarre viral rant about Tom Thibodeau, Josh Hart and the Knicks isn’t quite morphing into a diss-session to rival that of Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Still, Thibodeau clearly was aware of Butler’s jabs at him that went public earlier in the weekend. The Knicks’ coach threw his former star player’s words back at him when asked about it after Sunday’s practice in Tarrytown.
“Who? Don’t know him,” Thibodeau deadpanned, before adding with a smile as he walked out of the room, “but I will beat him to a pulp.”
Butler, who didn’t play in the Heat’s first-round loss to the Celtics after injuring his knee during the play-in tournament, had said in a video posted on social media that “Boston would be at home” if he’d played in that series and then strangely adding that “New York damn sure would be f–king at home.”
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Butler, a six-time All-Star who played for Thibodeau with the Bulls and Timberwolves, also said about the Knicks coach: “I love Thibs, but I don’t want Thibs. Thibs, I love you baby, but I want to beat you to a pulp. You want me. I don’t want you. It’s like a one-sided relationship. You in love with me and I love you, but I’m not in love with you, you know what I’m saying?”
Butler and the Heat had dispatched the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs one year ago.
The 34-year-old Butler also was asked in the video about Hart, who nailed the series-winning 3-pointer in Game 6 of the Knicks’ first-round elimination of the 76ers.
“F–k that mean to me? Josh Hart? C’mon man,” Butler replied.
Hart, who averaged 16.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in 46.3 minutes per game in the first round, was surprised to catch strays from Butler.
“I don’t know why my name came up,” Hart said a day ahead of Game 1 of the second round against the Pacers. “I’m over here, just vibing, minding my own business, trying to have fun. That’s all.”
