Chicago Bulls awards for the 2016-17 season

Jan 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts while sitting on the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts while sitting on the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
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Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Chicago Bulls
Jan 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) reacts while sitting on the bench against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Most Valuable Player

Jimmy Butler is, by the most significant margin imaginable, the best Bull.

Best scoring average of his career: Yes.

Best assist numbers of his career: Yes.

Best rebound numbers of his career: Yes.

Best steal numbers of his career: Yes.

He also put up 13.8 win shares and shattered his previous bests in free three attempts and free throw percentage.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

Without Jimmy, this Bulls team is planning a watch part for the lottery selection show. Like, not a barely in the lottery situation, but they’re hoping to sneak into the top six or seven picks. He had that kind of impact this year, carrying the team over and over again.

What really makes him the MVP is that he’s the fun part of this team. If you wanted Chicago to rebuild, all 6,000 trades we could come up with were centered around trading Butler and that was exciting. If you wanted this team to compete, it was all about how far Butler could carry the rest of this roster.

Last summer, when we all saw the writing on the wall and lived through the end of the Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah eras with the Bulls, it was Butler and his goofy obsession with football along with his inclusion on the gold medal-winning Summer Olympics squad that gave us a positive basketball memory.