Nobody can deny that the steady improvement in Jimmy Butler's game throughout the years. After a year that saw him take home the Most Improved Player award, as well as finally receiving the max contract he's been seeking, Jimmy Butler isn't exactly short on confidence at the moment. In fact, this is the most vocal he's been about his role since joining the Chicago Bulls. Recently, Jimmy Butler made a considerably bold statement, saying that he considers himself to be a point guard, instead of a shooting guard or small forward.
Butler was asked about his role while participating in Team USA's minicamp in Las Vegas, to which he replied:
“First off, I think I am a point guard. So I’ve done a heck of a lot of ball screen work, ball handling, getting into the paint and still handling, floaters, all that stuff point guards do. If I get a chance, high pick and roll more. I want some triple doubles. I’ve got to get my handle right so I can pass and get it to guys where they can make shots. I told Fred [Hoieberg). You ask what position I play, I say point guard.”
Considering he was drafted to be a replacement for Luol Deng, a small forward, it's natural for casual sports fans to be a little bit skeptical of his comments. Even Chicago Bulls writer Sam Smith admitted that it sounded like a joke to him at first. While it is surely nice to see one of the Bulls most productive players full of confidence, Jimmy Butler could very well be in for a reality check.
To point out the obvious elephant in the room, the Bulls already have a former MVP point guard in Derrick Rose, who from what we saw from last years playoffs, is on his way to finding his MVP form. To start a competition with Rose for the starting point guard spot seems counter-productive. The statistics are also in favor of Rose over Butler. According to stats from NBA.com, Butler only recorded 3.3 assists per game, along with an average of 20 points out of 65 games played. Those are pretty solid numbers for a shooting guard, but unless Jimmy starts providing assists at a faster pace, there isn't very much reason to even give him a shot in that position.
What is possibly the most frustrating part about this whole situation in Bulls fans eyes is that to them, Jimmy Butler is the shooting guard that fans have been waiting for. Now that they finally have an all star caliber player to pair up with Rose in the back court, fans will be asking why try to ruin a good thing? Basketball fans have already seen what a killer back court partnership can do to the league with Stephan Curry and Klay Thompson. While they are only rumors, many close to the Bulls organization claim that there is tension between Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. Rose and Butler both have the talent to compete with Curry and Thompson, and if they can figure out a way to successfully play together without creating tension, they could both play a huge roll in potentially bringing a championship back to Chicago.
