Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic are all probably locks for top-10 players in the NBA right now. His 56-point effort vs the Bucks was tied for the fourth-most points in a playoff game all-time.In the 2020 Finals he joined LeBron James as the only players in Finals history to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks for an entire series.His eight 40-point playoff games are tied for most in the NBA since 2020 (with Luka Doncic).Butler's playoff averages with Miami are sensational: 24.7 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 5.7 APG.The Heat have an NBA-best 38 playoff wins and two Finals trips since Butler's first season in Miami in 2019-20.Three All-NBA selections and one All-Defensive team selection.His four seasons in Miami scream top-10 player right now. NBA Careers of Jimmy Butler vs Notable NBA75 Team Members But if his profile is this close to players on the NBA's 75th anniversary team, he should be considered a top-100 player of all-time himself. None of those players may match Butler to a tee. No rings but great playoff performances and overall accolades. As far as today's game, he's in a similar boat to Damian Lillard.Payton eventually won a title in his last NBA season with the Spurs. Butler and Gary Payton were also the best players on a Finals loser and elite two-way players.Drexler led Portland to two Finals (both losses), similar to Butler with the Heat, before winning a title in Houston. He has a little Clyde Drexler in his résumé.Pippen obviously won six rings and had the benefit of playing with Michael Jordan. Elite two-way players with similar stats. I see some Scottie Pippen in his game.They have similar playing styles and numbers, although Leonard has two Finals MVPs and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. You might call him Kawhi Leonard lite.I drew up comparisons to five players on the NBA's 75th anniversary team. Led Multiple Teams to Finals as Only All-NBA Player in NBA Historyīutler's career arc is really interesting, so I've pondered the question – where does he belong among the all-time greats? Everybody on this list is either in the Hall of Fame or on the NBA 75th anniversary team. He's one of 17 players to lead a team to the Finals twice, as their only All-NBA player. That's crazy, especially in the era of super teams. Instead of his ring count being a "yea, but", it should be a springboard to focus on how impressive it is that he carried two Heat teams to a Finals as their only superstar. We haven't even gotten into the postseason. That's just based on Butler's regular-season accolades. 5+ All-NBA Selections and 5+ All-Defensive Team Selections in NBA History
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