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Report: Butler challenging Brown about role in 76ers' system

Chris Elise / National Basketball Association / Getty

Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Jimmy Butler has been aggressive while challenging head coach Brett Brown about his role in the team's offense, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne.

The vocal forward has reportedly been combative when discussing his place on the team, and he appeared "disrespectful" toward Brown during a recent film session in Portland.

This comes less than two months after Butler forced his way out of Minnesota when the Timberwolves dealt the disgruntled star to the Sixers for Robert Covington and Dario Saric.

Working Butler into the team's environment has reportedly been a strenuous task for the 76ers' coaching staff, and that's causing concerns about the long-term partnership between the franchise and the 29-year-old.

Philadelphia will continue working through the chemistry issues, hoping that the core of Butler, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons can resolve any kinks in the pecking order of the offense.

The frustration with Butler comes one month after Embiid expressed disinterest in his new role.

"Since the trade, it's been really down," Embiid said in December. "I tend to get triple-teamed a lot. I was in the flow of the offense. I feel like I’m not any more. There's not a lot of possessions on the block. I don't know. We got to figure it out."

Butler has tested the limits of his team and coaching staff in the past during his time with the Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls.

The five-time All-Star is averaging 18 points and 4.7 boards in 21 games since debuting for the 76ers on Nov. 14.

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