Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler too low in ESPN’s top 100 NBA player rankings

Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler’s been better than some ranked higher by ESPN

Let’s put things into perspective by looking at some of the other rankings. The player ranked right above Jimmy Butler is Trae Young.

This can’t possibly be right. Did Trae Young have a better regular season than Butler?

Statistically, maybe. But if you compare the records of each player’s respective teams and then also consider the stats, it is clear that Jimmy Butler made more of an impact last season.

Last year’s postseason shouldn’t even need to be a comparison. The Miami Heat shut down Young, limiting him to just 15.4 points and six assists per game.

The Heat also eliminated the Hawks in five games. Another player to compare Jimmy Butler to is James Harden, who was ranked at 11.

If this was four years ago, James Harden would clearly be the better player. However, it is now 2022 and the truth is that Harden had one of the most inefficient seasons of his career.

Harden averaged 18.6 points and 8.6 assists per game in the playoffs. Compared to Jimmy Butler’s 27.4 points and 4.6 assists per game, it becomes clear who was the better player.

To put the icing on the cake, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat also eliminated Harden’s 76ers in the playoffs. Jimmy Butler was the best player on the team that finished first in the East and battled the Boston Celtics to the death in a tight seven game Eastern Conference Finals series.

He did so while having the best statistical season of his career. If that is not enough to rank him higher, then what is?

Fortunately, Jimmy Butler is not the type of player to let a poor ranking like this impact him negatively. In fact, you better believe that he will use any kind of motivation possible to prepare for the upcoming season.

Jimmy Butler will be ready to show that he is a legitimate NBA superstar, whether everyone else believes it or not.