It’s never wise to get too caught up in how things look early into the NBA season.
As things begin to settle down, and reality sets in for many players and organizations, a lot can change, and what may have been true at the start ends up being revealed as a fluke later on.
But with that being said, Jimmy Butler’s performance so far this season seems more than just a hot start.
Acting as a leader and energizer for his club, Butler has dominated opponents on both ends of the floor all while his team has been one of the NBA’s best.
So, in the most recent update to the 2021-22 MVP tracker, it was no surprise to see Butler rank first, even ahead of Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, and Stephen Curry.
MVP Tracker, via @bball_ref:
1.) Jimmy Butler
2.) Rudy Gobert
3.) Nikola Jokic
4.) Steph Curry
5.) Montrezl Harrell
6.) Bam Adebayo
7.) Zach LaVine
8.) Kevin Durant
9.) Julius Randle
10.) Spencer Dinwiddie
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 1, 2021
Butler, 32, has come a long way since being a role player in Chicago. Since establishing himself as a star, he has been recognized for his two-way game and relentless attitude, an attitude that fits perfectly with what the Miami Heat are all about.
“We’re not running from anybody. We never will. We never have, and there’s no way around it. You gotta go through each and every one of these teams. Bucks being one. The Nets being one. Philly being one. All the way down the line, we know that, and we’re ready to compete,” Butler said in an interview with Bally Sports.
Thanks to Butler’s heroics, the Heat are now 5-1 on the year and look to be a contender for the title.
The 6-7 star from Marquette, who is a 5x All-Star, 4x All-NBA guy, and 5x All-Defensive player, is putting on his best performance yet, and it might just lead to him lifting up the MVP trophy at the end of the season.
