Despite constant claims that there is no conflict between the Chicago Bulls duo of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, many are not buying it.
Butler has said his piece and yet no one seems to believe it. How about a sophomore player who finished runner-up in the NBA Rookie of the Year race? Could he calm down the storm?
The player in mention is none other than Nikola Mirotić, one of the reliable Bulls forwards who came off the bench last season for the team.
Mirotić was a silent figure for the Bulls last season but his numbers certainly don't seem like it. In his rookie year, Mirotić averaged 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest, a big boost for former coach Tom Thibodeau despite the fact that the Bulls fell short in the NBA playoffs.
Speaking of the previous NBA playoffs, this was where all the beef surrounding Rose and Butler originated from. It was that fateful game six when rumors started to crop up, claiming that Butler and Rose had a brewing feud.
The problem is believed to be something stemming from who gets to hold the ball more. Rose had just come back from injury while Butler had been holding up fort in his absence for certain games. So when Rose returned, many were anxious to see how the two stars could coexist.
Before anyone took notice, no issues seemed to have been in place. Was it all media or from the end of observers?
Well, as far as Mirotić is concerned, it certainly comes as a surprise. He has been around to see for himself if there is something indeed brewing between Rose and Butler, and from his standpoint, there is really nothing worth being alarmed of.
"They are the leaders of our team and get along real, real well. You can see there's very good communication between them in games and practices. There's never been any problem between them that I have seen," says Mirotić as part of an interview made by Hoops Hype.
With Mirotić technically backing up Butler's claim of an inexistent feud brewing, will the public stop from thinking otherwise? That remains to be seen.
