During the 2020 NBA bubble, Jimmy Butler proved his status as a superstar when he led the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals. The Miami Heat weren’t projected to do so, and they upset the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the second round due to Jimmy Butler’s leadership. Needless to say, he has shown that he can get a team deep into the playoffs.
However, during his time with the Chicago Bulls, it wasn’t clear to everyone that Jimmy Butler would be a superstar. Former coach Tom Thibodeau commented on Butler and stated that they didn’t see him as a superstar back then.
More Tom Thibodeau on Butler in Chicago: "To say we saw him as a superstar, we didn't see that." Now sees Butler as, "One of the elite players in the league."
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) February 7, 2021
It makes sense that the Bulls didn’t see Butler as a superstar, as he didn’t have the kind of playoff success that he reached in one year in Miami. While he wasn’t quite a superstar, Jimmy Butler just needed some time to prove the caliber of player that he is, and Thibodeau sees him as one of the top players in the league. The Miami Heat have struggled this season, but it is only a matter of time before Butler leads them back on the right path.
Jimmy Butler is clearly a superstar now, and he has gained the respect of many fans around the league. Jimmy Butler is an elite two-way presence for the Miami Heat and his gritty mentality has spread to the rest of his teammates. He is a leader of men, and someone who his teammates will follow anywhere he leads.
