Usually, when an NBA player spends any amount of time with a franchise, there’s a sense of gratitude – a place in their heart for the organization that gave them a shot on the big stage. But sometimes, that relationship can unravel so badly that it leaves behind nothing but resentment.
Such was the case with Jeff Teague and the Minnesota Timberwolves, where the fallout grew so toxic that the one-time All-Star admitted he found joy in seeing the team lose after his rather ugly departure.
Teague’s time in Minneapolis
Teague joined the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017 after Minnesota had wrapped up a 31-win campaign in 2016-17. While the spotlight was mainly on the team’s emerging Big Three of Karl Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler, and Andrew Wiggins, it was the 6’3″ guard who stabilized the backcourt. He averaged 14.2 points per game and helped guide the Wolves to one of the best offensive ratings in the league that season. However, their playoff hopes were short-lived, ending with a first-round loss at the hands of the Houston Rockets.
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The following season brought chaos as the T-Wolves stumbled to a 36-46 record, and tension in the front office began to rise. Ultimately, by the 2019-20 season, Jeff lost his role in the starting lineup. Though he still received minutes, coaches grew frustrated with his playing style, particularly his insistence on shooting two-pointers instead of aligning with the team’s emphasis on three-point shooting. Eventually, he was brutally told how he didn’t fit the team’s long-term vision.
“Literally, they use analytics for everything. I got traded for shooting a mid-range jumper. So I came into the locker room and we’re down going into the half and I had to shoot it (because) the shot clock was on. I shot a mid-range jump shot and I actually made it,” the former Wake Forrest ace said.
“I was having a decent game and going into the locker room, you kinda hear people yelling, ‘He just doesn’t want to buy in. Imma get his a** out of here. I’m like, ‘What the f**k is he talking about.’… (The Coach) was like, ‘Man, you shooting these floaters and these mid-range shots, like step behind the line and shoot the three.’ They was like, ‘We gotta get you the f**k out of here,'” the retired guard added.
Jeff developed a hatred for the Wolves
The 6’3″ point guard might have accepted a trade had it been performance-related or due to a reduced role. But being moved back to the Atlanta Hawks midseason solely because he preferred jump shots over threes deeply offended him. That perceived disrespect morphed into bitterness, so much so that he later admitted he celebrated every Timberwolves loss after leaving.
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“I used to just hope that Minnesota lose every f***ing game,” Jeff added. “Every time Minnesota lost, I just went out and had a great time.”
Some might find humor in this tale, but it highlights the harsh reality role players face in the league. They rarely get the freedom to showcase their full game, and even strong performances can be dismissed if they don’t align with a coach’s system. Simply put, few environments are as unforgiving as the world of professional sports.