The Chicago Bulls didn’t think they could win a championship by building around Jimmy Butler, so they traded him.
Butler led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, but they chose Karl-Anthony Towns over him.
Then, the Philadelphia 76ers were one unlucky bounce away from potentially making it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but the front office chose Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons and lowballed him in free agency.
Butler later led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals and is one win away from doing that for the second time in just four years with the organization.
That’s why Mike Greenberg believes Butler has played himself into the Hall of Fame, and truth be told; it’s not that crazy to think.
“I don’t think it’s overstating it to say that Jimmy Butler is playing his way into a Hall of Fame kind of scenario.”
👀 @Espngreeny pic.twitter.com/ahkAK0jAax
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 25, 2023
His career averages aren’t all that impressive.
He averages 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 46.7% from the floor.
He’s led the league in steals once, has made it to six All-Star Games, five All-NBA teams, five All-Defensive teams, and won Most Improved Player.
However, Butler has proven to be the ultimate culture guy and playoff performer, and he’s one of the best defenders in the league by a long margin.
Butler has more career steals than career fouls, and he’s turned every single team he’s been on into a contender.
Basketball Reference currently gives him a 73% chance of being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and a win on Thursday night could — and should — drive that number slightly up.
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Fans React To Today’s Miami Heat Injury News For Game 5
