The Philadelphia 76ers were one of several stops during Jimmy Butler's NBA career before the wing eventually landed with the Golden State Warriors. Butler's stint in Philly was short, but it continues to be a point of debate among Sixers fans.
Back in 2019, the 76ers opted to sign Tobias Harris to a five-year, $180 million contract, a deal that did not age well. Meanwhile, Butler agreed to terms with the Miami Heat in NBA free agency before a sign-and-trade was orchestrated.
Butler played just 55 games with the 76ers during the 2018-19 NBA season then moved on to the Heat. A strong argument can be made that the Sixers would have benefited from re-signing Butler over Harris.
Now, Butler is opening up on his brief stint in Philadelphia, and the star's feedback is not exactly glowing.
Heat are finalizing a sign-and-trade with 76ers for Jimmy Butler, per @wojespnpic.twitter.com/e32HmvUiXi
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 1, 2019
"After the move to Philadelphia, he found an environment he said lacked accountability - quiet film sessions and an inability to absorb criticism and correct mistakes," The Athletic's Anthony Slater detailed on March 24. "His bluntness didn't land. His stay with the Sixers was brief."
Do Jimmy Butler and the 76ers have a future? pic.twitter.com/6f4DhCJQpQ
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 26, 2018
Butler cited communication issues within the 76ers franchise as a point of contention.
"You got to be able to talk to everybody," Butler told Slater. "As long as it was in the right direction toward winning, it shouldn't matter how it comes across. It's not that there's malicious intent about it.
"You had some differences between players and coaches. You had some differences between players and players. And it was just, I mean, you kind of couldn't talk to nobody."
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 9:13 AM.