Jimmy Butler became a fan favourite in Minnesota the minute he became a member of the Timberwolves on the night of the 2017 NBA Draft.
 

The trade shocked just about everyone, including Butler and his personal trainer Travelle Gaines, but Butler has acted like a true professional since the deal.
 

 

Chicago, What can I say?! I truly struggle with the words because you've been so much more than just my home for the last 6 years, you've been my life! You've embraced me like a son and pushed me to get better every day, every season. I can honestly say that I have always been incredibly motivated to succeed; it's just the way I'm built. But I know I owe so much to the person I am now, and to the player that I've become, to you. You always pushed me to never give anything less than my absolute best night in, night out. That's what you expected. That's what you deserved. And, I hope you know that's what I dedicated my life to every time I walked into the facility or stepped on the floor of the United Center. Thank you to the entire Bulls organization and Reinsdorf Family for taking a chance on me in 2011 and for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love for such a great franchise. I'll never forget the feeling I had when I was drafted and when I played my first minutes. It's an experience that I wouldn't have wanted with any other team and I'm so thankful to you for giving me that opportunity. Chicago, I love you. Thanks for embracing a kid from Tomball like one of your own. On to a new home and a new organization. Thankfully, with some familiar faces! PS... AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT! THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION THAT DO NOT GET THE SHINE THAT THEY DESERVE!! YALL ARE THE REAL ALL-STARS!! - Jimmy G. Buckets (@staceyking21 )

A post shared by Jimmy Butler (@jimmybutler) on

On Thursday afternoon, the three-time NBA All-Star was introduced to the Minnesota media and he won over every single Timberwolves fan by giving out his cell phone number during his press conference.
 

Aside from giving out his number, Butler also mentioned that he was going to work hard this offseason to try to recruit free agents to join him in Minnesota.
 


According to SiriusXM’s Mitch Lawrence, Butler started recruiting players to join the Bulls while he was still with Chicago and one of the players he’s been heavily recruiting is three-time NBA All-Star Kyle Lowry.

Lawrence recently went on The Dan Barreiro Show on KFAN and went into more detail about what Butler and the T-Wolves are trying to do this offseason.

(Start around the 39:45 mark)
 

Listen to "BarreiroJune28" on Spreaker.

It turns out that acquiring Butler gave the Timberwolves’ staff some confidence and has motivated them to go after more players of Butler’s caliber.

Butler and Lowry spent plenty of time together last summer at the Summer Olympics in Brazil, so there’s a possibility that the T-Wolves could land the 31-year-old point guard now that the Houston Rockets have Chris Paul.
 

(H/T SLAM Online)