For the past year, Chicago Bulls All-Star forward Jimmy Butler has heard his name prominently tossed around in trade rumors.
However, all of this chatter hasn't fazed his commitment to the organization long-term. During a recent interview on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Butler voiced his strong desire to remain with the franchise that drafted him almost six years ago.
Jimmy Butler on Jimmy Kimmell talking about staying in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/cC4GfOaW3L
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Article Continues BelowButler: “It's kind of hard to not pay attention. Everywhere I go, especially here in LA, everybody is ‘oh he is coming to the Lakers because he is here in LA.'
Kimmel: “You're not coming to the Lakers? Why aren't you coming to the Laker?”
Butler: “Because I love Chicago so very much and they took a chance on me in 2011 with the 30th pick. So I'm forever grateful for that.
Kimmel: “Just for the record, I happen to be a Lakers' fans. I think you should stay in Chicago because you built a foundation there and should stay there your whole career. Is that what you want to do.”
Butler: “I feel you just insulted me because you said you are Lakers' fans and that I am good enough to play on the team.
Kimmel: “I think it's important that certain players stay with their franchise. Like Kobe did. It would have been a…alright well come to the Lakers. By the way, this is really good reverse psychology I'm using on you right here.
Butler: “It's not working.
The 27-year-0ld has become one of the top players in the league at his position behind his progressive improvement over the last few seasons that saw him experience some significant uptick in his offensive production. He is coming off his best individual campaign averaging career highs across the board with 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Butler also recorded a career-best 15 double-doubles while being just the second player in Bulls history to record multiple 50-point performances in a single season. More importantly, he helped Chicago clinch a playoff spot in what was quite a tumultuous year during stretches of the season.
He is set to enter the third year of his five-year, $92.3 million deal that contains a player option for the final year worth $19.8 million. For the time being, it appears that the Bulls are committed to Butler as their face of the franchise but things could once again change.