Boston Celtics: Ranking the top 10 players out east in the Disney bubble

No. 4) Jimmy Butler

Playing in his first season down in South Beach, Jimmy Butler finds himself in the midst of his best season as a pro baller. While the 5x All-Star easily had made a name for himself as one of the best talents the league had to offer coming into the year, 2019-20 has proven him to be just as good of a leader as he is a player.

Joining a team that had mustered a sub-.500 record from the season prior that, ultimately, ended in a postseason-less campaign, the small forward stepped in and galvanized this young roster right from the get-go. By the time of the season’s suspension, the Miami Heat boasted a record of 41-24 (third-best home record of 27-5), good enough for fourth in the Eastern Conference, eighth-best in the NBA and are officially clinched for a go at this year’s postseason heading into the Disney bubble.

On the year, the star forward sees himself posting stellar averages of 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on 45 percent shooting from the field.

Though he has struggled mightily from long range this season (25 percent shooting), his penetration to the rim has allowed for far easier kick-out opportunities for his teammates on the perimeter (hence why he’s averaging a career-high in assists) and, thus, has been a huge factor in the team’s league-leading 3-point percentage (38 percent).

Proving to thrive alongside the likes of rising star Bam Adebayo, Butler has been the driving force for this Heat team all season and, in turn, makes them a true dark-horse contender heading into the postseason.

Though he’s ranked fourth on this list, his numbers and, more importantly, leadership skills should certainly warrant him a few nods during MVP voting season.