Behind the scenes of Jimmy Butler's first day as a Sixer

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ORLANDO, Fla. — It was business as usual at Sixers shootaround, except as Brett Brown gathered the group together, there was a new face sitting front and center.

By 10 a.m., Jimmy Butler had already been up for four and a half hours, had his breakfast, did his reading, got a lift in at the hotel gym, chatted with Brown, and arrived early to Freedom High School to get some shots up before shootaround.

Butler listened intently as his new head coach spoke to the group.

It went something like this ...

“He’s an All-Star. He thrives on the defensive end, and our culture is built on defense," Brown said. "He’s going to fit right in. There is no culture to be changed. We all have one goal. We want to win the championship, and with his addition, we have a good chance.”

But Brown wasn’t using his own words, he was actually quoting phrases from an interview that Joel Embiid did with the media on Monday night, following their win over Miami.

“Our culture is built on defense,” Brown repeated before helping Butler up off the floor.

And then it was time to get started. Butler picked up a foam roller and rolled out next to rookie Landry Shamet and Furkan Korkmaz. Assistant coach Billy Lange came over to chat. 

“He was talkative, he was asking questions and talking and listening to new verbiage and words,” Brown said of Butler.

One of the guys Butler particularly gravitated towards was JJ Redick. The two were going back and forth during shooting drills, and Redick pulled him aside to make sure that he was understanding (and helping to explain) concepts. 

But there’s only so much one can pick up during one shootaround session with brand new coaches, teammates and terminologies. 

“Today was about less is more, and close-game situations,” Brown said. “In that environment, he picks up really quickly. It’s obvious he’s been doing this for a long time.” 

After his first shootaround, Butler joked that he was “hella confused on some plays, but other than that, basketball was basketball.”

“He’s a cool guy, and I feel like he’s going to help this team in a lot of ways,” said Markelle Fultz, who has been relegated to the second unit. “I don’t know about all the stories y’all heard, but I’m excited to pick his brain.”

“I love basketball,” Butler beamed. “I love to compete, to show that I can help a team win, to show that I’m one of the really good players in the league.” 

Tonight, Butler will don a Sixers uniform for the first time.

“I know I’m going to love this city, and I hope the city loves me just as much. I’m just ready to hoop, ready to win, battle with my guys.”

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