Wade: 'As a leader, sometimes you can't be liked'

Things just don't want to blow over in the Windy City.

In the wake of a flood of negative press regarding his team, Chicago Bulls GM Gar Forman spoke to the media to address the issues. The player at the center of it all seems to be Dwyane Wade and his comments about the lack of desire from the young players on the Bulls' roster.

Related: Wade tweets of frustration with Bulls' performance

As a 13-year veteran, Wade has seen it all when it comes to the unique dynamic between team leaders and young players coexisting.

"As a leader, sometimes you can't be liked," said Wade. "Certain things you say and do won't always be the most popular. I'm OK with that."

"To be a leader you're not always going to be the most popular," Wade continued. "For the most part I try to say the things that I feel."

After the Bulls lost to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, the team's two best players - Jimmy Butler and Wade - sounded off on their teammates' lack of desire win basketball games. Butler claimed that the team doesn't play hard enough and he wants to play with players who care, while Wade claims that his younger teammates only care about having the title of an NBA player and making money.

Related: Wade, Butler question teammates' desire to win, audacity to take big shots

Unsurprisingly, these harsh comments were met with public backlash from not one, but two disgruntled teammates who didn't take too kindly to their reputation and work ethic being called out in such a public way.

There were reportedly no suspensions for any of the guilty parties, but fines were handed out to Wade, Butler, and Rajon Rondo.