Moving forward with our ongoing player rankings, we arrive at Jimmy Butler – one of the league’s best two-way wings and an incredible playoff performer. Butler has done the impossible several times, and his incredible resume proves he belongs in the top 10.
Top 25 NBA Players 2023-24: No. 9 Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler: An All-Time Playoff Riser
Butler is a rare player who gets better as the stage gets brighter. H has led the Heat to three Conference Finals appearances in the past four seasons, including two Finals appearances, all while overcoming talent deficits in many series. Butler has averaged almost 25 points over the past four playoffs, including eight 40-point playoff games since 2020. In addition to being one of the best isolation scorers and playoff performances, Butler is a great defensive player.
Butler can shut down the league’s best wings while having the IQ and size to guard perimeter plays. This elite defensive ability makes Butler one of the league’s best two-way players, which has greatly helped the Heat during the playoffs. Furthermore, Butler is an all-around impactful player, even on the rare nights when he isn’t scoring at a high level. He still makes a positive through high-level defense, rebounding, passing, and IQ.
Season Recap
Butler and the Heat had a quiet regular season last year. While he put up productive stats, Butler wasn’t named to an All-Star team and had a forgettable regular season overall. This led the Heat to finish eighth in the East and set up a playoff matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. This was the third time in four years the teams faced off in the postseason. Virtually everyone counted the Heat out after a disappointing regular season.
However, the Heat managed to pull off an incredible upset. After Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with an injury in Game 1, the Heat would take a 2-1 lead in the games he missed. Antetokounmpo returned in Game 4, but Butler erupted for 56 points and led the Heat to a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback to take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Heat would close out the series in game 5 with another fourth-quarter comeback and a stellar 42-point performance from Butler. Ultimately, he led the Heat to an incredible Finals appearance, becoming just the second eight-seed to make the Finals. They also beat the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in the process. Butler and Miami’s finals run will forever be remembered in NBA history.
Season Outlook
The Heat aggressively pursued Damian Lillard this offseason to give Butler another co-star and fill the team’s void of dynamic perimeter scoring. Ultimately, they were outbid by the Bucks. After failing to land Lillard, Bradley Beal, or Jrue Holiday, all while losing crucial role players Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, the Heat face an uphill battle this season.
Miami struggled last year in the regular season, and with the roster regressing, it’s fair to expect a similar or even slightly worse result. However, the Heat have proven they can’t be counted out in any playoff series. Although the Bucks and Celtics’ improvements will make it even more difficult for the Heat to compete for a title. Regardless, I’m still expecting a big year of production from Butler. Furthermore, Miami’s playoff history makes them impossible to completely rule out in the East.
The Last Word
Butler’s absurd playoff resume earns him a spot in the top 10. Butler is a true star and has proven he can be the top player on a championship-level team. Very few players have proven this and can consistently up their level of play during the playoffs. As a result, Butler is one of the most special and impactful players league-wide.
