NBA Chicago Bulls

5 Reasons Why Jimmy Butler Should Be an NBA All-Star Starter

5 Reasons Why Jimmy Butler Should Be an NBA All-Star Starter

Jimmy Butler Los Angeles Lakers
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler is easily the best two-guard in the Eastern Conference right now. Check out these five reasons why “Jimmy Buckets” should be a starter in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game in Brooklyn.

5. Player of the Month

Jimmy Butler Driving
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

5. Player of the Month

Jimmy Butler Driving
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Butler started the season like an All-Star caliber player, displaying tremendous improvement on both sides of the ball. His play to start the season earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors, and he keeps getting better.

4. Second in Player Rating

Jimmy Butler in Brooklyn
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. Second in Player Rating

Jimmy Butler in Brooklyn
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Butler is the second-best shooting guard in the NBA according to a player rating measurement. The measurement is based on a players’ offensive and defensive contributions on the floor. Butler is second-best only to Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden. That means that Butler is better than Kobe Bryant right now. Granted, Bryant is at the tail end of his career, but it's still impressive considering where Butler ranked last season.

3. Major Improvement

Chicago Bulls Butler
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

3. Major Improvement

Chicago Bulls Butler
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Butler has established himself as a defensive mastermind early in his career, and he's easily the most-improved offensive player in the NBA. Butler averaged only 13 points per game on a Bulls offense that was the worst in the league last season. Butler tremendously improved his shooting ability and aggressiveness on offense averaging 21 points per game. He can do it all.

2. Complete Package

Jimmy Butler Complete Package
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

2. Complete Package

Jimmy Butler Complete Package
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

With his improved offense, Butler is now a complete player for the Bulls and has quickly become coach Tom Thibodeau’s favorite player. Butler is averaging 40 minutes per game playing lockdown defense, grabbing rebounds and scoring at will. He is the complete package.

1. Nobody is Better

Jimmy Butler All-Star
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

1. Nobody is Better

Jimmy Butler All-Star
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody is better at shooting guard in the Eastern Conference this season than Butler. He leads the Bulls in scoring with 21 points per game and steals with 1.6 per game. Butler can guard anyone in the league, and now he has the ability and confidence to score on anybody. He should absolutely be the staring point guard for the East in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.

Dan Marmaduke is a Chicago Cubs, NFL, and NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarmadukeSports and add him to your network on Google. 

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