There were several heroes in Baylor’s dominant 86-70 win over Gonzaga in the national title game that gave the Bears their first NCAA championship. Four players finished in double figures for Baylor, including Adam Flagler, Davion Mitchell, MaCio Teague, and Jared Butler. And while it is Mitchell who has raised his stock as a potential lottery pick throughout the Bears’ run in the NCAA Tournament, it was Butler who stood the tallest when it mattered most.

Butler finished with a team-high 22 points for Baylor, making six of 14 shots including four three-pointers while adding three rebounds and seven assists. When the Bulldogs were threatening to cut into the Bears’ lead early in the second half, the 20-year-old drained two triples to extinguish their comeback and give Baylor some breathing room. For his effort, Butler was named as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

But his effort in helping Baylor to a championship may have helped his stock in the 2021 NBA Draft, which will take place at the end of July. The draft may still be months away, but Butler’s performance in the Bears’ title run may have helped him become a lottery pick. Here are some reasons why he could hear his name called early come draft night:

 

1. He has a high floor as a point guard

On Monday night, there were four likely first-rounders that competed in the national title game in Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert, and Mitchell and Butler for Baylor. Among the four, Butler is projected to be a late first-rounder and was placed at No. 22 in ClutchPoints’ own mock draft. But even if he lacks the athleticism that other guards possess, the 20-year-old still has a high floor, especially when it comes to being a playmaker.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists throughout the season while shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc. His numbers show that he is someone who can score, shoot, and facilitate, even if he might not be the most athletic guard in the draft. A team looking for a guard who can do a little bit of everything on offense should take a chance on Butler after his strong performance in the NCAA Tournament.

 

2. He is NBA-ready

Though he is not a physically intimidating guard that other teams may be looking for, Butler already does a lot of things well that will likely translate at the next level. As a junior, he enters the NBA with more experience than the usual guard, and has also had time to play both on and off the ball, and has proven that he can both score and create for his teammates.

If there is a team looking for a solid option for a backup point guard, there are few guards in the draft that are more NBA-ready than Butler. He can not only immediately contribute to a team’s offense, but has also shown that he has a high basketball IQ and has a good feel for the game as a point guard.

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3. He has proven himself on the big stage

Butler could actually be earning a paycheck right now as an NBA player after he declared for the 2020 NBA Draft last year and talked to several teams about potentially playing for them. But he later withdrew his name in the draft to complete some unfinished business with Baylor and ended up helping them win the national title.

In the process, Butler showed the nation that he is not afraid of the big moment in an important game and shone brightest in a title game that featured other potential first-rounders. His composure in the national title game against Gonzaga is just another reason why more teams should consider picking Butler as a lottery pick in the draft.