Jimmy Butler ascending to TOP 5 player status

[rate_]

30.7 PER
+8.5 relative TS
10.6 BPM
.346 WS/48

These are TOP 3 player in the NBA advanced numbers. Combined with the Heat currently a TOP 2 seed, he's definitely TOP 5 player in the league.

In no order:

Jokic, Curry, KD, Giannis, Butler

[Def Leppard]

Nah that's going to be a pass for me dawg

Sent from my SM-G981W using RealGM mobile app

[a8bil]

Early season hot takes...

[MindState]

Absolutely not. Hes not even top 10, and never has been.

[Dr Aki]

He ain't better than Giannis, Durant, Curry, Jokic and Doncic if we're talking about first 15 games

[Commodor]

Klay Thompson is my all time favorite player.

Jimmy Butler is the only SG I’ve ever considered on Klay’s level.

So I don’t mind it.

But if you don’t have Lebron on that list it’s hard to believe. Kawhi & Embiid have a word to say too.

I don’t respect the Harden & Jokic offense-only type guys as “best” so that’s probably where people disagree with me.

[rate_]

Absolutely not. Hes not even top 10, and never has been.

I disagree. Jimmy is peaking now as a player. Last season was probably his best advanced statistical season, so he is showing an uptrend. To say this version of Jimmy isn't a TOP 10 player is disingenuous.

Last season Jimmy was:

3rd in WS/48
4th in BPM
5th in PER
6th in VORP

These are the same stats you praise guys like Jokic and Giannis for, yet it doesn't apply to Jimmy.

[skones]

Nah.

[Wolfgang630]

I can definitely see top 10

[Dan Z]

I don't know where he ranks, but as a Bulls fan I'm impressed with how far he's come. Early in his career I thought he'd be a good defensive specialist and that was probably about it. Maybe with a little offense, but not so much a three point shot.

I was also impressed at how he took it to LeBron in the 2020 NBA finals. The Heat didn't win, but that wasn't because of Butler.

[rate_]

Early season hot takes...

How is this a hot take when he was basically TOP 5 in these categories last season. The only difference from last season is that his scoring efficiency has increased since he's not relied upon for playmaking/facilitating, allowing him to focus more on scoring. He is getting into his spots alot more efficiently because of Lowry setting him up. He doesn't have to bring the ball up to create his shot everytime like last season.

[SharpyShuffle]

Absolutely not. Hes not even top 10, and never has been.

Very bad take, much worse than OP's

[DroseReturnChi]

wake me up if he shoots 40% in 3s.

[rate_]

wake me up if he shoots 40% in 3s.

He's scoring about ~9% above league average TS on well above average volume. That is super elite status.

[rate_]

He ain't better than Giannis, Durant, Curry, Jokic and Doncic if we're talking about first 15 games

Jimmy 10.1 BPM | .333 WS/48 | 29.8 PER
Doncic 3.3 BPM | .093 WS/48 | 21.8 PER

per 100 poss
Jimmy: 36.0 points | 62.9% TS
Doncic: 35.3 points | 52.0% TS

In what world has Doncic been better than Jimmy this season?

[Wolfgang630]

He ain't better than Giannis, Durant, Curry, Jokic and Doncic if we're talking about first 15 games

Jimmy 10.1 BPM | .333 WS/48 | 29.8 PER
Doncic 3.3 BPM | .093 WS/48 | 21.8 PER

per 100 poss
Jimmy: 36.0 points | 62.9% TS
Doncic: 35.3 points | 52.0% TS

In what world has Doncic been better than Jimmy this season?

He hasn’t

[bamheat]

Jimmy alway been about it. 2020 playoffs already put him in that status...

He doesn't get recognized because he doesn't jack 3s all game

[SharpyShuffle]

He ain't better than Giannis, Durant, Curry, Jokic and Doncic if we're talking about first 15 games

Jimmy 10.1 BPM | .333 WS/48 | 29.8 PER
Doncic 3.3 BPM | .093 WS/48 | 21.8 PER

per 100 poss
Jimmy: 36.0 points | 62.9% TS
Doncic: 35.3 points | 52.0% TS

In what world has Doncic been better than Jimmy this season?

There's a weird little corner of the NBA community who think Luka is already a top-tier megastar. Remember he got voted third best player in the league in the poll on this board

Remember as well the old adage: "you can't reason someone out of an opinion they didn't reason themselves into". Luka stans don't think he's a top 5 player based on data, or achievements, or any of the usual things used to rate players. So unfortunately referencing those things won't change their mind

[a8bil]

Early season hot takes...

How is this a hot take when he was basically TOP 5 in these categories last season. The only difference from last season is that his scoring efficiency has increased since he's not relied upon for playmaking/facilitating, allowing him to focus more on scoring. He is getting into his spots alot more efficiently because of Lowry setting him up. He doesn't have to bring the ball up to create his shot everytime like last season.

Jimmy Butler is a very good player. Definitely top 15...but we're what? 12/13 games into the season? Small sample sizes produce skewed stats.

[dshearn]

People can think whatever they want to think, but I just want to thank our good friends from Canada for sharing Lowery with us. The effect lowery has had on Jimmy has been profound. Jimmy always hustled on both side of the floor. but now he is an efficient scorer to boot.