In a conference that boasts the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and their respective superstars, it’s surprising to see the Miami Heat on top of the East. While most fans expected Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant to reign supreme during the offseason, it’s Jimmy Butler and company instead. This presents an intriguing option for collectors who are looking to invest in rookie cards at this point in the season.
But while Butler's stock in the market isn't that hyped or popular as other stars, there's still potential for his cards to exceed expectations in the coming months. We take a look at several reasons why the hobby should pay more attention to Jimmy Butler rookie cards.
Butler is among the best two-way players in the NBA
Even with a glimpse of the NBA's current landscape, it isn't hard to see Butler is among the most talented two-way players out there. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both out because of injuries, LeBron James' defense isn't what it used to be, while other stars are just recognized because of their offensive talent.
But Butler, on the other hand, is on another level when healthy. This season alone, in the 45 games he has played as the Heat's primary wing, he has averaged 21.4 points on 46% shooting from the field and 87% from the free throw line. He's also getting 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals in 34.1 minutes per contest.
These numbers help elevate Butler to a level where he stands out from most players in the NBA. While he's not currently in the MVP race, one where Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid are frontrunners, his impact for the Heat can't be denied at all. He has been their best player on both ends of the court and their primary finisher to close games out.
And come playoff time, Miami will lean more on Butler to play both ends of the court like he's a man possessed. In his nine combined playoff appearances for the Heat, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers, Jimmy Buckets averaged 18.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. His playoff career also saw him connect 44% from the field, 34% from deep, and 83% from the free throw line while constantly defending the opposing team's best player.
With all of these details, it's pretty hard to bet against Butler, especially with a lineup as dangerous as that of the Miami Heat. Of course, the upcoming postseason will be a real crucible to this squad. But with Butler's reputation, the odds can go in their favor in the coming months.
The Miami Heat is on top of the East
One would have expected the Brooklyn Nets with Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in it to dominate the Eastern Conference during the offseason. As the season started, those projections shifted to the Chicago Bulls who surprised many with the amazing performance of DeMar DeRozan. But at this point in time, those two teams aren't on top of the East. It's the Miami Heat with Jimmy Butler in it.
Just by looking at Butler's teammates and the impact they're having for Miami, one would see how well-built they are for any team in the league. Bam Adebayo is among the NBA's best passing big men in the league and a clear candidate to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Tyler Herro has been killing it from the bench and the frontrunner to take the Sixth Man of the Year award.
The Heat's offseason acquisition, Kyle Lowry, has taken the Heat to another level with his leadership and playmaking. Not to mention key guys like Gabe Vincent, P.J. Tucker, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Omer Yurtseven stepping up when Miami's key pieces were injured or unavailable.
Plus, Heat fans and collectors are seeing the return of Victor Oladipo to action in a game against the Houston Rockets. In that contest, the shooting guard posted 11 points, 4 assists, and 1 rebound in 15 minutes on the court. With Oladipo back, Miami's roster has become deeper and more talented as the regular season approaches its end in the coming weeks.
With those guys surrounding Butler, Miami has a good chance of making a deep playoff run, and a potential return to the NBA Finals soon. If the latter happens, expect those Jimmy Butler rookie cards to gain more attention in the market.
The state of Jimmy Butler rookie cards in the market
Butler's definitive Prizm rookie card, which happens to be the inaugural edition of the brand, is showing signs of life for the moment.
In a three-month graph by Card Ladder, PSA 10 copies of the said card have gone up for the short term from $172 to 190. This is an increase of $17 or 10.32% over the course of 38 confirmed sales during the given time.
While this isn't a sharp jump nor has a clear upward trend been established, this short-term increase can potentially be the start of a good ride for Jimmy Butler rookie cards in the market. Of course, this can only happen if the All-Star wing and the Heat put up a good fight for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.
The verdict on Jimmy Butler rookie cards
Unlike most big names in the hobby, like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, or Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler doesn't have a ring to speak for. Unlike promising stars with so much potential to grow, like Luka Doncic and Ja Morant, the Heat's All-Star wing doesn't have so much hype in the market to drive his prices up.
This detail, along with his insane talent as a two-way player and a very competitive Miami Heat team, is what makes Butler's rookie cards stand out. His value is still attainable for most collectors and the room for his stock to grow is looking great at this point in time.
Those hunting for players with a chance to exceed their positions in the market would do well to check out Butler's stock. With the way he and the Heat are performing right now, it'd be criminal not to even consider his cards for collecting or investment purposes.
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