Jimmy in Philadelphia
During the 2018-19 season, Jimmy Butler was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers. At first glance, this situation seemed eerily similar to the one Butler had just left. Like the Timberwolves, the 76ers had two young stars on the rise in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons along with several complimentary roleplayers and solid coaching.
The fit seemed to work even better than expected, as Jimmy effortlessly integrated into the 76ers system. For a time, many viewed the team as having the best starting 5 in the entire league. Personally, I felt that they were the best overall team in the NBA as well. Whether you personally believed that or not, the 76ers proved to be one of the best teams in the league that year, winning over 50 games and heading into the post-season as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference.
The first round saw the Brooklyn Nets get handily defeated by the Philadelphia juggernaut in five games. There was a buzz surrounding the team. It felt like all the pieces were in place for Philly to make a championship push. At the very least, an appearance in the Conference finals was expected.
All the while Jimmy Butler was playing incredibly well, averaging close to 20 points a night along with a handful of assists that ensured Ben Simmons didn’t have to shoulder all of the playmaking duties. On the defensive end, he was a strong presence to complement Embiid.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Jimmy’s game was an ironic one. Throughout his time in Chicago and in Minnesota, Butler was labeled a ‘locker room cancer.’ A detrimental presence to a team that made the team worse, not better. Yet in Philadelphia, he was the exact opposite.
Unlike in his past situations, Butler didn’t seem to have a problem with his role or his teammates. He slotted in with no complaint, playing with the grit and tenacity that had made Philadelphia faithful fall in love with past greats like Allen Iverson.
It seemed that Jimmy had finally found his place in the league. Instead of being a ‘locker room cancer’ or a ‘consummate un-professional,’ the butler had garnered a much better reputation that could best be summed up with the following nickname:
“Philadelphia Favorite.”
The 76ers would ultimately lose in game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing to the Raptors as a result of one of the most awe-inspiring shots in NBA history. Needless to say, it was not the ending the team and its fans were hoping for.
But as far as hopes went, they were still high in Philadelphia. Sure they may have lost, but it was after seven games and a ‘once in a lifetime’ shot. As the offseason approached, the 76ers seemed intent on keeping their core of Embiid, Simmons, and Butler together along with most of their depth.
They’d be foolish not to, especially when they had all the assets needed to do so. It was practically a guarantee that this 76ers team would return for the following season, ready to make another run for the coveted Larry ‘O Brien trophy.