"It's usually someone more potent than him" - Stephen A. Smith asserts Jimmy Butler lacks 'superstar' DNA
For the past few years, Jimmy Butler has been a common name brought up in superstar debates. He has proven time and time again that he is one of the top postseason performers in the league.
Despite entering the playoffs as the eighth seed, Jimmy Butler has gotten the Miami Heat all the way to the NBA Finals. His journey began when facing off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the MilwaukeeBucks, and ends against the Denver Nuggets.
Through 20 postseason matchups, Butler is averaging 27.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. Even with his stellar run, Miami finds themselves down 2-1 heading into Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Leading up to the pivotal Game 4, a debate broke out on ESPN's 'First Take' about whether Butler can be the best player on a title-winning team. Stephen A. Smith was quick to chime in with his thoughts on why he doesn't think so.
"You think about superstars and what we usually get from those superstars in terms of offensive production, that's not Jimmy."
"It's usually someone more potent than him that usually pulls it off."
.@stephenasmith doesn't think Jimmy Butler can be the best player on a championship team 👀
"You think about superstars and what we usually get from those superstars in terms of offensive production, that's not Jimmy." https://t.co/x2ejL8VjMV
Should Jimmy Butler be considered a superstar?
Stephen A. Smith might not think so, but Jimmy Butler could be considered a superstar in the NBA. The gauge for others is how they perform in the playoffs. In that regard, he stacks up with other elite talents in the league.
Another reason why Butler is seen in this regard is because of the success he's had since becoming the face of the Miami Heat. During his tenure, they've been to the Conference Finals three times and the NBA Finals twice.
He might not have walked away with a ring so far, but that isn't fully on Butler. Every year, he does everything he possibly can to get the Heat across the finish line.
Stephen A. might feel this way because Butler's numbers have taken a slight dip in the NBA Finals compared to previous series. His 20.7 points per game are the lowest of any round in the playoffs.
At the end of the day, Butler has arguably done everything a superstar is expected to do for their team. He's led them on deep postseason runs and elevated his game when it matters most.
Based on that standard, he most certainly belongs in the superstar category. It might not be on the same level as guys like Steph Curry and LeBron James, but he belongs in the conversation at the very least.