. good evening from los angeles, i am tavis smiley, tonight a conversation with jimmy butler, the three times all-star and the top player in the nba, he join us to discuss the recent trade of the timber wolves. we are glad you join us. a conversation of nba the all-star, jimmy butler, in a jou just a moment. ♪

>> and buy contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. jimmy butler is an all-star and widely regarded as a top player in the nba at the his career of the age of 27. he's now taking the championship of timber wolves. before he's embracing that site, he's enjoying some sunshine in california as a result. >> glad to see you man. >> how do you feel about this minnesota thing? >> i like it.

new. >> it is really cold and not too much sunshine like it is here but i am okay. >> y'all got a good s.w.a.t. next year >> young. i am the old guy. i am 27. [ laughter ] it is scary. 27 and you're old and now i can say officially i am old. >> all joke aside, you had some of that in chicago, it became your team and even d-wade acknowledge it was your team. you are the old guy of minnesota, at 27. are you ready for that role? >> i think so. you grow with time and you learn, i played with phenomena l plays and todd is back with me and d-wade. you pick up a lot of things of the way they lead in different ways on the court of what you say and how you act.

it is a lot and i have learned and i am ready. >> i am wondering whether or not this notion of leading on the court is over stated. i ask that because i understand the value of leadership. when you are paying guys the kind of money y'all are getting paid, i would hope buona i am a coach or an owner that i am paying guys who are invested and self starters and really necessarily need me to pump them up for every game. >> i hope you are here because you want to win >> of course. >> is on the court leadership, are we making too much of that? >> you have to have it to win, but i think if everybody is in zinc and doing what you are supposed to do, some people are putting too much emphasis on leadership. not one person can do it by themselves, i think everybody has to fall in line and play their role.

if you are the vocal leader, be the vocal leader, if you a lead by doing, then you do that. people coming to our lead and they are scoring to guard. that's what you have been your entire life, there is no need to come into the lead and being a passing point guard. that's not who you are. if you are not the local ra-ra leader, you don't have to be that. if you are lead by example, that's your way of leading, what's wrong with that. >> how do you define your leadership on court? >> i think i do every single day, at the same time i have a rhythm and routine about it. i speak up and as you may be able to tell from things in the past, it is not always the best way to go about it. i take fault and blame when i mess up even at that point in time, i think i did right but looking back maybe you did not handle it the right way. i am learning like everybody

else. i am me and yeah, i make mistakes and yes, i am angry and i want to win and i may say things or if you catch me at the wrong time, you will get the raw and emotional me. >> you went there jimmy butter, and we teased you. >> you get that all the time. ? >> jimmy butter. >> every kid acai came across whether they ask for autograph. if you ask for my name, it is like always jimmy butler. my name is jimmy the 3rd, it fits i guess. >> it works. jimmy butler. when i say jimmy, you say butler. >> jimmy. >> butler. >> it works that way man. [ laughter ]

>> lets go anyway. so in chicago or any place else, it is not about oyou or the buls but when of that notion of team breaks down, and the locker room all haiti broke out in the locker room, because you are human and i totally get that happens. nobody says and there is no guarantee that everyday in a team setting, everything is going to go perfectly. if you lose and that makes it difficult. when that thing breaks down, how did you get it back? >> like i said it over and over again, winning takings care of everything. >> yeah, yeah. >> if you win, it does not matter the relationship that you have with everybody even though you probably have to have a great relationship in order to win. if you are winning and exceeding expectations, nobody is questioning what you are doing. when you are losing or mediocre so to speak, that's when everybody has something to say.

everybody comes out with the wood work and people thought you are okay had something to say. i am okay with it. i will take that blame and i don't have a problem with that. at least say it to me and don't pretend like we are okay and you have something to say, that'ses the part that i cannot honor. i want you -- if you have a problem with me or the way that i handle thing. tell me so we can have that conversation instead of going to a third party so now i feel a type of way. i have a problem with that. with that being said, i am okay. you know hey, why did he get traded and this is the reason why, whatever it maybe, i am okay with it. >> that's the question of how you handle inside the locker room with other players. when you believe or at least you keep reading everyday that management has an issue with you, that's a different kind of dynamics and relationships.

how do you stay focus and handle that reality and when you believe or reading everyday or management has an issue or whatever it maybe. >> i don't think management had an issue with me, but i will never forget lebron james told me after winning the game. >> who was this? >> i think his name is lebron. >> okay, yeah, yeah. >> he told me to control what i can control and you know me and my guys talk about it everyday, when you have a wrob with somethi something, go to the gym and work out. that's all you can do. if somebody has something to say, then say it. there is nothing you cannot do. >> we live by that. go get better every single day and give them a reason to not like you because you are getting better everyday. that's how i handle everything now. say what you want and do what you want, i am going to control what i control. >> i like that. for those of us who are big fans of yours and big fans of the

nba, we know that you are being reunited with your former coach in chicago. >> i am. >> what's your thought of your relationship? >> i love him. if you read all the articles, i was always said great things about him and i mean it. i was a kid literally a kid when i got into what to expect with the 30th pick in 2011. i want to be able to tell everybody i was an nba player. i was not that good coming out of college, like i was a hustle guy, a garbage guy and worked on my game and became okay, he pushed me and he had me working out three or four times a day in a three-day span. >> really? >> this is what it is going to take to make it. i made it a little bit and i am thankful. >> you had to have something, obviously, you had some talent. because if you did not have the

talent, you would not be the great nba player you are now. what happens and what were people not seeing or doing? nothing happens magically. i know you worked at it. when a guy that's 30 and some of the guys don't get drafted. these were not guys number one or two or three draft picks? how does that happen when you are in a world where everything -- everybody is watching and everybody is looking for that next big thing and yet, sometimes they still miss it. >> you h youh-huh, since i was school, everybody missed me. junior college to market. you got to find guys that want to win and i think how i get it done is the people that i have around me everyday. if they don't get the credit because they are not seen or the

one with this hairdo or on national tv or they're the ones that make you and focus on the game of basketball. >> they have so much to do with it and making sure that i am still me at the end of the day. it makes it so much easier to focus on basketball. >> lets talk about the focus around you. not by name and what i am getting out here. when you see players that spend out of control and so often what we hear and believe that the people they were hanging around, watching them and maybe aiding and abetting them e exploitixpl them and take advantage of them as they spun out of control. who you were you able to put the right people around you. >> majority of my people have been with me since the beginning. >> you are. >> people still spin out of control. >> the difference is everybody has a job. if you are not doing your job, i

try to keep business and personal so far apart that you know if you are not doing your business, we still are family but i cannot have you working with me or working for me anymore. it has happened. >> but, with that being said, i have two trainers that start with me like three or four years ago that makes sure that my body is working correctly and i am doing all my stuff and chef, i do have friends that i keep arn around because they remind you, you are still a kid, don't change and be that person. they don't take advantage of me. they're probably thinking hey, you are doing so much and you need to chill out and you don't need that. leave it alone. we are content where we are when it comes with what we do everyday and do we train and play dominos and play some cards, literally. [ laughter ] >> video games? >> i don't play video games. you are the only one. >> how is that possible that at

your age and generation, you are not a video game guy. >> it is like movies and dominos and playing some cards >> give me three movies that you love? >> ""friday," we just watched them. >> it is a great movie. >> i love it. >> it is teaching you about life and family. >> symbol is my boy. >> i am with you. all right. >> "lion king," "friday," give me something else. >> "come to america." every time i run into eddie, i see them every time and particularly with our cm, we start running lines and they tease me, man, you act like you are about to scream play. >> i could have. i know that they think top to bottom. >> it is a classic funny film. >> i love it. >> let me ask you this. early in the conversation, you

referenced your own maturity and the growth that everyone and that's true whether you are an athlete or not, we have to go through that. the thing that troubles me and i feel sorry on a certain level. it is not sympathy, it is empathy. i do put myself in the shoes of these young athletes, you are still 27 and you are still 25 or 24 and we judge y'all like y'all cannot make mistakes and all the rest of us are making mistakes, we are not on national television everyday night and not drafted. tell us of the journey getting to the nba and making that kind of money, the journey to mature. >> it is different and really hard. everything you do is literally under a magnifying glass. it is going to be blown up. now you look at it with twitter and snap chat and anything

that's going on, anything you do somebody got a camera on you and if you are out on the club, or walking in the streets, you have to be on your best behavior. when you do, you got to understand that it happens even though people may judge you for it, it is definitely okay. you learn everywhere you go, you are that person they are pointing at, we know they're going to do something wrong. if you are looking at it, you may slip up because you are worried about it and you think i am not going to do it and you happen to do it, instead of living your life the right way because it is okay. everybody makes mistakes. it is jouust now you can be 19 29 or 39. there is going to be a phone on you. >> coach. >> you learn and grow with it and you learn through these events that you have, hey, just be you, calm down, i know it is new to you, just be you and be

true to yourself and you will be okay. >> i am going to pull this tape out, 20 years, hopefully you will come back again. in 20 years, i am going to play this show again and i hope i am playing it because something wonderful that you have done and i want to brag to people, i interviewed jimmy butler 20 years ago verses pulling this tape because i just read on espn that you are broke. >> i am broke. >> exactly, my point. >> i do not want to see you 30 for 30 because it falls apart. there is a serious point which i think is my curiosity about how and i know the short answer, when you spend more than you make, you end up being broke no matter who you are, you spend more than what you make, you are going to be broke. how can you dispute of the notion that i should not be afraid that 20 years from now,

you will be broke. we look at these athletes all the time and so many people cannot understand, how is that possible? >> well, i can tell you 28 years from now i am not going to be broke. i put enough money away, yes, i have spending habits. >> studs in your ears. >> that's a gift for myself from winning the gold medal. > >> it is a nice gift. i had to argue with my financial adviser. >> kent. >> my guy name is kent, too. >> i just want to go metal. i have been training all summer, i want some earrings. >> i did not ask you if it is a good idea. >> i am getting some stud. >> finally he gave me and let meggett them. >> ken, we love you. >> we love both the ken's.

>> i have my habits that i spend money on. i put so much money away and i am doing it the right way. i figure truth be told, if i invest in my people enough and lets happen to say if i do go broke, they have been there of the jump, i am putting my faith on them. i don't plan ongoing broke. i really don't. i don't know how but i know ken is doing the right thing with my money and he's letting me know. i am putting a lot of faith in him. [ laughter ] >> ken, and now i am thinking about it. my guy named is ken. i got five kens and this ken watches that ken and that ken watches that ken. that's the way to do it. >> i am not going to be that and i am hoping when that time presents itself that i am fortunate enough to play at another couple year where i can get another contract. i am secure now but that's just

adding to the security. >> yeah. >> i am fine where i am at right now and i love basketball and love the game. everything will take care itself. >> i would not ask you to get you in your business. >> i know, i know. >> my heart just breaks every time i see guys who make that kind of money and then ten or fifteen years later, they just -- as long as you know you are being wise and making good decisions with your money, i am good. >> a lot of it, it comes from gambling a lot of the times and clubbing all the time. flying private and all that good stuff. i don't do too much of that. i am in the house. i want to stay in the house. i am a country kid and we stay away from everybody, dominos and cards and movies. >> that's it. i can lose money playing domins, and cards. >> if you are losing that much

money playing dominos with your boys, you need to stop playing. >> that means i am not good. i am the best. i am definitely the best snoc. t >> challenge! >> you are going to get a bunch of e-mails now. >> your twitter is about to blow up. >> i wrote this down, speaking of twitter. that's why i love jimmy butler. he goes leave chicago and goes to -- they got some young guns, jimmy gets to to minnesota and one of the first things this brother does is to give everybody in minnesota his number. >> in the world. he puts out his phone number and the quote, i wrote it down to get it right. if you got any beef, definitely

leave message. >> what athletes do you know goes to a city and says here is my number, if you got any beef, hit me. i know your phone must have blown up. >> it broke actually. >> we had the phone on vibrate and it was ringing because there was literally thousands of face time calling and text messages and phone calls. i have changed the number since. i want to find a way where i can give my fans my number where they cannot call and text and face time. all at one time, i could not pick up and i may answered three calls and they full-tiinally go through, i got to talk to a kid five minutes and had to be eight-year-old and i picked up and he's like oh my god and took off running around his house. the kid had to be in the biggest house in the world. that kid was running about three straight minutes. he was talking to somebody but

he never show that person on the phone. three straight minutes and i was like, i donidn't get to talk toy man, next caller please. >> i love my fans. i am not anybody without them. i figured i got to text back with a couple of people, it was fun. >> i am sure on my instagram, i got to figure out how to make sure i can getn touch with everybody. i know their phone numbers some where. >> you got your brother and somebody running your social media for you. >> i do it every once in a while. i got people that handle it. >> you are excited about this opportunity in minnesota? >> am i excited? >> it is new. it always feels good to be wanted. we have a really good opportunity in front of us. these young guys and everybody else we are bringing in. you have the young guys who are really talented and the vets who have done it for a while. you mix it together and you got

kids and every single morning and ooerevening and night, we'l okay. >> how do you stay focus, believe that you can win and believe that you can win championship caliber when all you here is the rest -- these guys on the west coast, they're going to run the table. you are making some nice change. when i get in a fight, i wanted to work out and i am sparring in the gym, i want to spar somebody that i know i got a shot, i am about the get killed, i am not sparring with mayweather. >> i would not back down. >> that's the way i look at it. everybody is human in this league. anybody can have a really, really good night and a really,

really bad night. >> when it comes to winning championship, you got to have a really good team. in the day, it is all about who's playing the best basketball at the right time. we all play in the game to win. if you ask every person in this league right now, what's your goal, everybody would say to win the championship. >> yeah. >> we don't wake up everyday to say oh, we got to go against these guys, we cannot beat them. we are fierced competitors and we all want to win. everyday you wake up to get better and do what you can for your respected organization and put them in the position and win the championship and it all plays itself out. you cannot look that far ahead at the same time. you got right now and today, that's what you can show and that's what you take care of. >> i take your point. >> jimmy butler, i am honored to have you on the show. for the first time and not the last. >> 20 years. >> i may not be here in 20 years. >> i will probably won't be here in 20 years but i look forward

to seeing you in the next few months when you get a chance, come see us. >> definitely. >> thanks our show tonight, thanks for watching, as always, keep the faith. for more information on today's show, visit tavissmile tavissmiley @pbs.org. >> hi, join me next time as we take a deep dive of what's happening around the country, i am tavis smiley, that's next time, we'll see you then.

♪ and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you.

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