NBA Draft 2011: Why Jimmy Butler Was a Great Pickup for the Chicago Bulls

Forward Jimmy Butler was a great pickup for the Chicago Bulls with the 30th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. 

Having watched Butler the last three years at Marquette, it’s tough not to like him as a player. 

He’s tough, hard-nosed and can contribute to the game in multiple categories. He’s not spectacular at any one thing, but he does everything moderately well, at least.

As a JUCO transfer, Butler entered Marquette in the fall of 2008 as a sophomore and was placed behind Marquette’s illustrious "Big Three" of senior guards Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal and Dominic James,—all three scored more than 1,000 points in their Marquette careers—as well as junior forward Lazar Hayward, who also posted more than 1,000 points at Marquette.

Butler played the role of sixth man for that team, and they reached the second round of the 2009 NCAA tournament.

Then as a junior, Butler became Hayward’s No. 2. He averaged 14.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Both were second-best on the team to Hayward, and Butler became Marquette’s second-best player.

This past year, he was second in scoring and rebounding (15.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game) and led Marquette to the Sweet 16 for the first time since a guard named Dwyane Wade did in 2003. 

For being the 30th pick in the draft, the Bulls are getting a heck of a player and an even better person.

They already have point guard Derrick Rose, forward Luol Deng and forward Carlos Boozer as their primary scorers. 

Do they still need an off guard who can take some of the scoring load off Rose? Yes, but the players with that skill set available at the last pick in the first round are rare. 

Butler will not ease the scoring load on Rose, but he can help out in the toughness department.

He can come off the bench for Chicago as a player who’s not afraid to get his nose dirty.

Just look at what Butler did to Providence wing Marshon Brooks, who was college basketball’s No. 2 leading scorer this past season (24.6 points per game) in a Feb. 27 matchup. 

Brooks, the No. 25 pick in this year’s draft for the Boston Celtics, was held to 17 points during that game with Marquette. Brooks told Marquette coach Buzz Williams that Marquette defended him better than any other team in the country. 

Most of the defensive responsibility for Brooks rested on the shoulders of Butler, who used his length to hold Brooks—whom some compare to Lakers guard Kobe Bryant—to 17 points (he averaged 24.6 points per game). 

It’s safe to say Butler is a workaholic. 

He’ll dive on the floor for the loose ball, play shut-down defense on the opponent’s best perimeter player, then battle with the post players inside for the rebound. 

He’s a player who doesn’t give up and is a great teammate. He goes all out every second he’s on the court and doesn’t stop until the whistle blows. 

Off the court, Butler is a person of high character and is a humble individual.

As it has been documented recently, he was rendered homeless at age 13 and bounced from home-to-home until he landed on his feet the summer before his senior year of high school. 

His past shows he’s a natural fighter who won’t give up, and that’s the type of player any playoff team would want.