With the shooting guard position currently being one of the weakest positions in the NBA, Jimmy Butler is quickly rising through the ashes as the best two-way shooting guard in the NBA.
The list can get lengthy for the best shooting guard in the NBA. There’s the obvious choice of James Harden and Klay Thompson, but guys like Demar Derozan and Bradley Beal start creeping up on the list. Then there are players who will be in the Hall of Fame but currently on their last legs like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant. But, where does Jimmy Butler fit in all of this?
James Harden is currently in his own class when it comes to shooting guards.Some may argue he was the MVP last season ahead of Stephen Curry, others don’t appreciate this game because of his lack of defense. That’s a big advantage in the NBA, a player who can play quality minutes on both ends of the court. It’s nice to see players drop 30 points a night, but how many points are they giving up on the defensive end?
Queue in Jimmy Butler. From the list of guys of James Harden, Klay Thompson, Demar Derozan, Bradley Beal, and Dwyane Wade, Butler has the defensive edge above all those star players. Sure, Wade could hold his own on the defensive end during his prime, but Butler’s youth makes him more effective on both ends.
Jimmy Butler averaged only 20 points per game last season, which is middle of the pack among the previous list of guard. However, he also guarded the opponent’s best player and had one of the best defensive win-shares in the league. His offense is only improving as he gets older. He may not put up 30 points per game, but he also doesn’t give up 30 points per game either. Butler is a rare gem in the NBA, a player who works hard on both ends of the court. He’s clearly the best two-way shooting guard in the league.
