The 2021/2022 NBA season is still young but there are already talks of who might be the league’s MVP. From Stephen Curry to Giannis Antetokounmpo, some players are just a cut above the rest. You can now throw Jimmy Butler’s name to that mix as the Miami Heat star is having a very good season.
While still early in the year the Miami Heat are second in the East with a 5-1 record, only behind the upstart New York Knicks. The Heat are winners of their last 4 NBA matches and Jimmy Butler has been key in those games which have the Heat in first place.
In an article on CBS Sports, reporter Sam Quinn has made a good case to consider Jimmy Butler an early season NBA MVP candidate. Here are some of the reasons why Jimmy Butler should be in consideration for the award.
Jimmy Butler early season MVP candidate
According to Quinn, Butler in six NBA matches is averaging career high numbers in points per game (25.3) and field goal attempts (17). Not to mention that Butler also has 7 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game, Butler has been all over the court for the Miami Heat. All of this also comes with the new NBA rules regarding offensive players initiating contact and at the ripe old age of 32.
Butler does have a lot of help this season with Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson, but he is still getting numbers that are a cut above the rest. The Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler showed they are the real deal in their October 27 win over the Brooklyn Nets by 106-93, that night Butler had 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Who else are MVP candidates?
Early candidates for MVP are Stephen Curry with his league leading 28.7 points per game, followed by Ja Morant who is tied with Curry in points per game. Kevin Durant is only 1 point shy with 27.7, while LeBron James is behind Butler for points per game at 23.8.