Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Ranking the five best Chicago Bulls players of the decade

By Luke Askew

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13), after Rose was fouled, during the first half on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the United Center in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13), after Rose was fouled, during the first half on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the United Center in Chicago. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls fans have a love-hate relationship with Jimmy Butler. He was drafted by the Bulls with the 30th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, thus making his come-up in the Derrick Rose era of Bulls basketball.

Butler was the perfect Bull. He worked harder than anyone, went from a defensive-minded role player to a multiple-time All-Star and embodied everything that Chicago fans love.

After Butler’s star status became official, the concept of who he needed to be changed in the minds of Bulls fans. When he was developing in the D-Rose era, it was incredible to see him turning into the first option on offense and, ultimately, one of the best two-way players in the NBA. But developing a superstar skill set comes with superstar expectations. Bulls Nation was divided. Was Butler the guy to build around, or was he just an off-brand superstar that could never win a championship as the No. 1 option?

The Bulls’ front office ended up trading Butler after six rollercoaster years in Chicago.

During his time with the Bulls, Butler was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2014-15 season, he was a 3x All-Star, he was named to an All-NBA team and he was named to three All-Defensive teams. That’s quite the resume.

Even though he chastised some of the youngsters on the team during his final season in Chicago, Butler still left as one of the best Bulls of the decade.

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