The NBA announced today that for the first time in his career, Jimmy Butler has been named to the All-NBA Third Team. Butler is the first Bull to make an All-NBA Team since Pau Gasol (second) in the 2014-15 season.
Butler played in 76 games (75 starts) in 2016-17 and averaged career highs across the board with 23.9 ppg (14th in the NBA), 6.2 rpg, 5.5 apg (T-23rd) and 1.88 spg (5th) in 37.0 mpg (T-4th). He is one of five players in the NBA this regular season to average at least 20.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.0 apg, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. He scored 20 or more points in 15 consecutive games from Nov. 7 to Dec. 6, a career-long streak and the longest by a Bull since Michael Jordan in the 1995-96 season (24 straight). Butler posted five games of at least 40 points in the regular season, which tied for fifth-most in the league, and his 55 games with 20 or more points are the most in a season in his career. In recording two triple-doubles this season, he became the first Bull to record back-to-back seasons with multiple triple-doubles since Joakim Noah in 2012-13 and 2013-14. Of his 15 double-doubles this season, Butler recorded double-doubles in four games in a row from March 21-26 for the first time in his career.
The three-time All Star excelled at the free throw line, hitting a career-high 86.5 percent of his shots from the charity stripe. He ranked fourth in the NBA in the regular season for free throws made per game with 7.7, and his 25 games with 10 or more free throws made ranked third in the NBA. Butler set a career high in assists with 14 on March 26, and tied his career highs in steals (6 on Nov. 9), field goals made (15 on Jan. 2) and free throws made (21 on Jan. 2). His 143 steals this season made him the fourth Bull in the last 25 years to have at least 140 steals in a season (Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Metta World Peace). Three times this season, Butler was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Nov. 14 to 20, Jan. 2 to 8, and March 26 to April 2.
Butler is joined on the All-NBA Third Team by forward Draymond Green (Golden State), center DeAndre Jordan (L.A. Clippers), and guards John Wall (Washington) and DeMar DeRozan (Toronto). The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, picking players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.
Below are the voting results for the 2016-17 All-NBA Teams. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP.
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota, 50 (2); Chris Paul, LA Clippers, 49; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 48 (2); DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans, 42 (2); Paul George, Indiana, 40; Gordon Hayward, Utah, 27; Hassan Whiteside, Miami, 18; Kyrie Irving, Cleveland, 14; Klay Thompson, Golden State, 14; Nikola Jokic, Denver, 12 (1); Damian Lillard, Portland, 12; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 3; LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio, 1; Blake Griffin, LA Clippers, 1; Al Horford, Boston, 1.
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