Jimmy Butler had a breakout season last year and is now someone that garners a lot of attention. Butler made his first All-Star game in the 2014-15 season and is now in the player pool for Team USA, as they are looking forward to the 2016 Olympics. Butler and Derrick Rose have reportedly had beef, which Butler has claimed stems more from the team not winning than a sour relationship between the two All-Stars. Rose is the point guard for the Chicago Bulls while Butler starts on the wing, but he reportedly considers himself a point guard, according to Sam Smith of NBA.com.
Butler stands at 6-foot-7 and is more likely a small forward than a point guard, but his ability to handle the ball is a plus. Butler doesn't typically play the point for Chicago, but that still hasn't changed his view on his position, and he has been working at being a better point guard.
"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. You ask what position I play, I say point guard," said Butler.
Butler was reportedly dead serious when he made those comments, and his ability to play the point would be a huge help for the Bulls. Rose is more of a scoring point guard, and it would be helpful for him and the team if he was off the ball more often. Last season, Butler played 38.7 minutes per game but only racked up 3.3 assists per game, which is quite low for someone who considers himself a point guard.
On the depth chart, Butler is considered the starting shooting guard while Rose is the point guard, with Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich as his backups. Butler has become one of the best two-way wing players in the NBA, so he should be just fine with being considered a shooting guard/small forward. It is possible that Butler wants to play more of a LeBron James type role as a point forward, but we haven't seen him consistently show the ability to facilitate at that level yet. Butler has been working on his skills as a point guard though, so maybe the 2015-16 season is when we will see the 25-year-old handle the ball more often and play the position he considers himself to be.
