Jimmy Butler met the Minneapolis media, and cheering onlookers, during a press conference at the Mall of America on Thursday.
At one point, the Timberwolves' newest star got everyone laughing when he gave out his cellphone number and suggested anyone with issues should call him personally.
Butler, obtained from the Chicago Bulls on draft night in a trade that sent Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn to the Chicago along with a swap of first round picks, will give the Wolves one of the NBA's top defensive players.
"Thibs has molded me into the player I am today," Butler said about Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau, who was Butler's coach with the Bulls.
Speaking to reporters and an estimated 2,500 fans who came to watch, Butler said he wants to be involved in bringing other veteran players to the Wolves, which has been an area the team has struggled with over the years.
"We're going to be tough," Butler said. "I'm looking forward to playing with these guys. They play with so much joy. ... They talk about the sky being the limit. But I think we can go a lot higher than that."
"You don't get the opportunity to add a player like Jimmy very often," Thibodeau said.
"You can't do the things he's done without a lot of talent," Thibodeau added. "But he's chased excellence from the day he arrived in the league. He's one of the best two-way players _ an Olympian, a gold medalist, all-NBA. He's a great person, a great leader and we're thrilled to have him.
General manager Scott Layden said, "The way he shares the ball makes everyone better, and the mark of a great player is what they do to make other players better."
When a reporter asked Butler about whether criticism directed toward him in Chicago in the aftermath of the deal was "frustrating" to encounter, Butler replied: "This is not frustrating. It's expected. Somebody's got to take the blame. I'll be that guy. I'm OK with it. I'm fine. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. With that being said, my phone is in my back pocket right now and whoever has anything to say to me, feel free: 773-899-6071."
A call to that number resulted in a rapid busy signal Thursday afternoon, and a text message was not immediately returned.
Both Thibodeau and Butler deflected questions about any problems that either of them had while in Chicago.
"The big thing for us is that we're looking ahead to what we have here," Thibodeau said. "We're not looking backwards. We're thrilled that we have the opportunity here. This is a great fit for us, and it's a great fit for Jimmy as well. There are a lot of players who are looking at this team now and thinking this is going to be a good place to play.
"We're not going to get lost in any sideshows or distractions."
Added Butler, who didn't have any problems handing out his cell number: "I don't have any bad things to say about anybody. I'm looking forward to it. ... I'm ready to move forward."
