Jimmy Butler nominated to the NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team

Jimmy Butler makes this his fourth NBA All-Defensive Team nomination, his first with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jimmy Butler has now been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team four times, only missing last season due to injury. Ironically, Butler only played in 59 games this season, winning 37 and losing 22 when he played. The Timberwolves falling apart toward the end of the season heading into the playoffs proved that the Wolves needed Butler to succeed.

Jimmy Buckets proved he could be a top-20 scorer in the league while playing as a top-10 defender, showing the NBA world that his success in Chicago wasn’t random. Butler was third in the league in minutes (36.7), and set an example for his new Timberwolves team, in which they responded going to their first playoffs in 14 years.

Butler’s 79 total points in the voting were the least of the 10 players named to a team, with Paul George (74 points) the top point-getter that wasn’t awarded. Butler was 11 points behind Robert Covington, Jr. of the Sixers, who was named to the First Team.

Respect for Jimmy Butler around the league has risen this year, especially with his fourth nomination to the All-Star team this year. Even with the recent criticism of head coach Tom Thibodeau, he would do anything for his fierce competitor, Jimmy Butler, as stated here.

"Via, NBA.com“It is crazy, but I’ve worked really hard in this league to get to where I am right now, and I’m to a point where I just want to win. And I think he knows that as well. So with that being said, he takes my opinion, what I’m seeing, a lot more into account because he knows how bad I want to win and how much I’m willing to sacrifice and give up just to win. That’s the only reason why I play this game. But I’m not gonna lie, it’s different, because at one point in time I couldn’t get him to say hello to me. And now, I get text messages and phone calls at who-knows what time of the night. That’s a big jump from me my rookie year to six, seven years in.”"

Overall, the Minnesota Timberwolves should be excited that Jimmy Butler is getting this recognition and hope that he can stay healthy next season as the Wolves look to repeat their postseason hopes.

Next: Warriors and Timberwolves trade scenarios

Expect Butler to not care too much about the praise of this recognition, rather, expect him to want more success from this recognition.