Chicago Bulls Former Players Competing for a Championship: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat
Last but not least is the star of this piece, Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat. Butler was originally selected by the Bulls during the 2011 NBA Draft where they took him with the 30th overall pick. He has proven to be one of the biggest draft steals in recent NBA memory.
After emerging a few years into his career with the Bulls, Butler averaged 20 plus points per game in all three of his last three years with the organization. He was eventually moved in the trade that saw the Bulls get all-star guard Zach LaVine.
Following stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers Butler has found the perfect home and organization in the Miami Heat. While their regular season record right now may suggest they are further down the Eastern Conference totem pole than they really are, people simply can’t overlook them following last year’s NBA finals run.
Butler was obviously a key part in that run along with teammate Bam Adebayo, and this year he once again added to his game to become a more complete player. Chicago Bulls fans know about his scoring and defense, but this year he has helped on the glass and created for teammates more than ever before.
His 7.3 assists per game and 7 rebounds per game are both career highs. It is not every season you see a 31-year-old all-star caliber player setting career highs and becoming a more all-around dominant force. If someone is going to do that, though, it is no surprise it is Jimmy Butler.
It did not work out in Chicago and as the other players on this list, moving on was seemingly the right thing to do for everyone involved. While Bulls fans may not be seeing their team in the playoffs, they will be able to watch a number of former Bulls looking to win a ring.