Butler earns NBA's Most Improved Player award; happy to be a Bull
When Jimmy Butler decided not to sign a contract extension with the Bulls before the Oct. 31 deadline, he suggested he was "betting on himself" to have a good season.
After accepting the NBA's Most Improved Player Award on Thursday at the United Center, Butler was asked who won the bet.
"I think we both did," he said.
In his fourth NBA season, Butler boosted his scoring average from 13.1 points to 20.0 this year, while also improving his rebounds, assists, field-goal percentage, 3-point accuracy and free throws. He made the all-star team for the first time and will likely repeat as a member of the all-defensive team.
Butler will surely get a new contract worth close to the league's maximum salary (around $15 million for a four-year player) this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent. Since he's restricted, there's virtually no chance he'll leave the Bulls, because they can match any offer from another team. The Bulls obviously put their faith in Butler last season when they traded Luol Deng.
"I think this is a place for me," Butler said. "I love playing with the guys we have. They continue to bring in great, high-character guys that fit the team role. I love it here. I'm happy to be here."
Butler received 92 of 129 first-place votes to become the first Bulls player to win Most Improved. Bulls guard Aaron Brooks won it in 2009-10 while playing for Houston.
Golden State's Draymond Green finished second. Utah center Rudy Gobert was close behind in third place and Miami center Hassan Whiteside was fourth.
Butler is from the Houston suburb of Tomball, Texas, and has an inspiring story of overcoming hardship. He was homeless for several years as a teenager, living with several friends until taking up permanent residence with a host family. Two of Butler's brothers were on hand at Thursday's ceremony.
After accepting the trophy, Butler thanked his coach at Tyler Junior College, Mike Marquis; his coach at Marquette, Buzz Williams; and his personal trainer, Chris Johnson.
"(Johnson) was the first one that said, 'I'll make you an all-star,'" Butler said. "Of course I didn't believe him. I was like, 'I'm not worried about any of that.' But it happened."
Cavs unsure about Shumpert:
Cleveland will gain a player in Friday's Game 3 of this second-round playoff series at the United Center. Shooting guard J.R. Smith is back after serving a two-game suspension for striking Boston's Jae Crowder in the first round.
In the regular season, Smith had two big 3-point shooting games against the Bulls, but went just 1-for-5 from long range in Cleveland's loss at the United Center on Feb. 12.
The Cavs may lose a player, though. Oak Park native Iman Shumpert, who started in Smith's place during the last two games, is questionable due to a groin injury suffered in Game 2. Shumpert is averaging 18.5 points in the series.
"(He's) feeling a little bit better than we originally expected," Cavs coach David Blatt said Thursday, according to The Morning Journal. "We're monitoring and hoping that he'll continue to progress."
Cavs apologize for video:
The Cavaliers issued an apology for a video shown on the scoreboard during Game 2. The video was supposed to be a parody on "Dirty Dancing," where a woman wearing a Bulls T-shirt attempts to jump into a man's arms. Seeing the shirt, he instead throws her to the floor.
In the next scene, the woman is shown wearing a Cavs shirt and holding an ice pack to her head, and declares she's now "all in" for the Cavs.
"While the video was not intended to be offensive, it was a mistake to include content that made light of domestic violence," the team's statement read in part.
The Cavs also canceled plans to give away arm slings at Game 2 in honor of forward Kevin Love, who is sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.
Bulls center Joakim Noah was asked Thursday about the controversial video, which aired during a time out.
"They apologized? Good," he said. "I heard about it. I don't know. I guess it's not very tasteful."