The star former wing of the Chicago Bulls Jimmy Butler is making a lot of headway with a surprise team in the East with the Miami Heat in the playoffs.
Former Chicago Bulls star small forward/shooting guard Jimmy Butler (now with the Miami Heat) had quite the run in the NBA since leaving the Windy City following the 2016-17 season. The Bulls shipped off “Jimmy G. Buckets” during the 2017 offseason, in a deal that landed them shooting guard Zach LaVine, power forward Lauri Markkanen, and point guard Kris Dunn from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Butler did spend six seasons with the Bulls, still by far the most of any team that he’s played with in his NBA career to date. During his six seasons with the Bulls, Butler averaged 15.6 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks.
In his career thus far, Butler is a five-time NBA All-Star selection, three-time All-NBA Team selection, four-time All-Defensive Team selection, and the 2014-15 Most Improved Player of the Year award winner. Butler was All-NBA Third-Team this season, and finished 11th in the MVP award share voting. That was the second highest that Butler has ever finished in the MVP share voting, behind his 2017-18 season with the Timberwolves.
In the current season with the Heat, Butler is leading head coach Erik Spoelstra’s squad to new heights since LeBron James left South Beach. On the night of Sep. 19, Butler and the five-seed Heat will be trying to take down the three-seed Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat could take a three games to none lead on the Celtics if they win tonight.
However, Butler had some truly special seasons during his runs with the Bulls, Timberwolves, Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers. Here’s a look back at three NBA stars that he’s dominated at different points (or just in general) in his career to date.