Jimmy Butler Downplays Brett Brown Confrontation: 'We Got Better as a Team'

Philadelphia 76ers swingman Jimmy Butler defended himself among reports he engaged in a contentious confrontation with head coach Brett Brown.

"I don't think any part of it was confrontational, just a coach to player talk, a player to coach talk," Butler said, per Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "It just happened to be in front of everybody. I think we got away from it great, and we got better as a team."

His quote comes after Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reported the four-time All-Star "aggressively challenged" Brown regarding his offensive role, "complicating an already tenuous chemistry" with the team. They noted some witnesses called Butler's vocal disagreement with the head coach during a film session "disrespectful."

Any potential drama with Butler—who can become a free agent this coming offseason—is notable after the 76ers acquired him via trade for Robert Covington and Dario Saric, especially since he left the Minnesota Timberwolves on less-than-stellar terms.

However, Brown also suggested the incident was overblown, per Winters, "I never felt like there was any, what was the word? aggressive? It was two people talking...It doesn't mean that something that is challenging is disrespectful...I like the dialogue."

Shelburne and Wojnarowski reported "Butler's sluggish assimilation into the Sixers environment is causing some concern about his long-term viability and fit with the organization."

While that may be the case, Philadelphia has been an impressive 15-6 when Butler's taken the court since the trade.

The ESPN report pointed to ownership's desire of making the Big Three of Butler, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid work long term, and it has resulted in plenty of wins even if there have been challenges along the way.

It is difficult to find a more promising trio across the league than Simmons, Embiid and Butler.

Simmons and Embiid are two young building blocks who give the 76ers cornerstones at ball-handler and center. Butler is a four-time All-Defensive selection who can defend the opponent's best player while carrying the offense for extended stretches with his ability to attack the lane and create open looks.

The 26-14 Sixers are on the short list of title contenders in the East and have someone who can take over a playoff series on either end in Butler. They are apparently still working on the chemistry part of things, but 76ers fans can take solace knowing Butler and Brown both downplayed the contentiousness of their interaction.