For several years, Basket USA has offered its Top 5 candidates for the “Most Valuable Player (MVP)” trophy every Tuesday. And to start our marathon, which will keep us going for almost six months, we decided to focus on the excellent start of Jimmy Butler, player of the week in the East.
A true Stakhanovist, fashioned in Chicago by an expert in this method, Tom Thibodeau, “Jimmy Buckets” has never seemed so flourished on the floors as since the arrival of his great friend Kyle Lowry. More scorer, less creative and faithful to himself on the rebound or in defense, he is thus the guarantor of the philosophy of Miami.
After two weeks of competition, the Heat thus displays a record of five wins and one defeat (only the Bulls are doing better in the league), to which Jimmy Butler is obviously no stranger. At 32, he even seems to have made further progress in his game and in his leadership, he who had already been named “Most Improved Player (MIP)” in 2015, when he was playing in Illinois.
But can he now maintain this rhythm throughout the season, in order to become the second player in history to win the MIP and MVP trophies, during his career?
The president Giannis Antetokounmpo
If he succeeds, Jimmy Butler would join Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA history books. The “Greek Freak” had indeed won the title of “Best progression of the year” in 2017, before winning that of MVP twice, in 2019 then 2020 (he was 7th in 2017 and 6th in 2018). Apart from the Greek, therefore, also in possession of a title of Defender of the Year (2020), no one has managed to obtain these two awards.
However, some have approached this extremely rare doubled in the past. Starting with Jermaine O’Neal and Paul George, both elected MIP with the Pacers, in 2002 and 2013, and who remain to this day the only ones to have finished on the podium of the vote for the MVP then (Giannis Antetokounmpo excepted) . More precisely in 3rd place. It was in 2004 for Jermaine O’Neal, still with Indiana, and in 2019 for Paul George, with OKC this time. Note that “PG-13” was already ranked 9th in the ballot in 2014.
Tracy McGrady, named MIP with the Magic in 2001, had meanwhile failed twice for 4th place in the MVP trophy after his coronation, in 2002 and 2003, and still under the colors of Orlando. After leaving for the Rockets, “T-Mac” had added three other appearances in the Top 10 of this vote to his record: in 2005 (7th), in 2007 (6th, incidentally as in 2001) and in 2008 (8th ). Just before starting his descent into hell …
Like, finally, another former glory mown in mid-flight, Gilbert Arenas. Designated MIP in 2003, at a time when he was playing for the Warriors, “Agent Zero” had also finished in the Top 10 of the ballot for the MVP. It was in 2007 (8th), during his time with the Wizards.
Notable fact: the triple All-Star had won the award for “Most Improved Player” when he was only in his second season in the league (“sophomore”). Like Kevin Johnson before him, MIP 1989 with the Suns, and who climbed to 8th and 7th places in the vote for the MVP, in 1989 and 1990, still in Phoenix.
Few MIPs have become MVP candidates
Other former “Best Progressions of the Year” also scratched an appearance in the Top 10 of the MVP trophy after their coronation. This is for example the case of Kevin Love, elected MIP in 2011 and 6th in the ballot for the MVP a year later, in 2012 therefore, with the Wolves. The same goes for Pascal Siakam, named “Most Improved Player” with the Raptors in 2019 and 10th in the MVP vote in 2020. For his part, Julius Randle, the reigning MIP, had slipped directly into the Top 10 of the MVP , in 8th place, the year he was crowned with the Knicks.
As for Jimmy Butler, the MIP 2015, he had already appeared in the Top 10 of the ballot for the MVP. It was in 2018, during his only full campaign for Wolves. But maybe he will manage to do even better in 2022, if he at least keeps the Heat in the Top 3 of his conference and if he keeps his current stats.
After two weeks of competition, the Miami leader is in any case at the top of our traditional race for the MVP. But it is still far too early in the season to release an undisputed favorite and the Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gobert, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic and other Giannis Antetokounmpo that it is very difficult to decide so close to the start. of the season.
1 – Jimmy Butler (Heat)
With: 5 wins, 1 loss – 2nd in the East.
Matches: 6 contested out of 6 possible.
Stats : 25.3 pts, 7.0 reb, 5.5 pds, 2.8 int, 0.3 ctr and 2.3 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 53% on shots, 38% on 3-pointers and 89% on throws.
2 – Stephen Curry (Warriors)
With: 5 wins, 1 loss – 2nd in the West.
Matches: 6 contested out of 6 possible.
Stats : 28.7 pts, 7.5 reb, 6.5 pds, 1.5 int, 0.5 ctr and 4.0 bp in 35 min.
Percentages: 42% on shots, 39% on 3-pointers and 97% on throws.
3 – DeMar DeRozan (Bulls)
With: 6 wins, 1 loss – 1st in the East.
Matches: 7 contested out of 7 possible.
Stats : 25.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 4.0 pds, 0.9 int, 0.6 ctr and 1.6 pdb in 34 min.
Percentages: 49% on shots, 41% on 3-pointers and 87% on throws.
4 – Ja Morant (Grizzlies)
With: 4 wins, 3 losses – 5th in the West.
Matches: 7 contested out of 7 possible.
Stats : 28.3 pts, 5.4 reb, 7.7 pds, 1.7 int, 0.3 ctr and 4.9 bp in 35 min.
Percentages: 52% on shots, 39% on 3-pointers and 83% on throws.
5 – Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
With: 5 wins, 1 loss – 1st in the West.
Matches: 6 contested out of 6 possible.
Stats : 16.3 pts, 17.2 reb, 1.0 pad, 0.7 int, 1.7 ctr and 2.2 pdb in 31 min.
Percentages: 72% shooting and 72% throwing.
Mentions : Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), Zach LaVine (Bulls), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Julius Randle (Knicks), Kevin Durant (Nets), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Anthony Davis (Lakers)…
