Butler: 'As long as we're winning, I don't give a damn what my stats are'

Jimmy Butler is willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means sacrificing some shots.

Since making the transition from Chicago to Minnesota this summer, Butler has seen his scoring average drop from a career-high 23.9 points last season to 15.1 this year. Butler is cool with it so long as the Timberwolves continue to get results.

"Like I said my whole career, as long as we’re winning I don’t give a damn what my stats are," Butler told Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. "I think winning makes everybody happy."

Butler is a reigning three-time All-Star, which came in part because he was the featured player in Chicago, averaging 21.7 points over the last three seasons. But he's since transitioned into a supporting role with the Timberwolves where Butler ranks fifth in usage rate.

Part of that speaks to the offensive talent in Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are budding superstars who are more naturally gifted scorers. The Timberwolves' system also favors creative dribblers like Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford.

The dynamic is working, at least for the moment. Minnesota ranks fifth in offensive rating and has won five games in a row - its longest winning steak in over eight years.

But it's also been a concerted effort on Butler's part to reinforce the Timberwolves where they're weakest, which is on defense. He's doing whatever the team needs him to do, and Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau appreciates that aspect of Butler most of all.

"That’s who Jimmy is. Jimmy has always been that way," Thibodeau said. "If we need him to score, he’ll score. If we need him to be a playmaker, he’ll do that. What he’s showing people is you put the team first. That’s the most important thing. You never hear Jimmy talk about, 'I didn’t get my shots' or 'I need more minutes.'

"He wants to win. That’s what Jimmy wants, and if we’re going to win, you put the team first."