The Jimmy Butler experience in Philadelphia was a fleeting one for the 76ers and their fans. The Sixes acquired Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves early in the 2018-19 season and he provided some terrific moments before leaving for the Miami Heat in free agency.
Butler averaged 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 55 games for the Sixers before leaving for Miami and guiding the Heat to three trips to the Eastern Conference finals and two NBA finals appearances. He is now with the Golden State Warriors after things turned sour in Miami.
Bleacher Report ranked the top 100 players in the history of the NBA and Butler came in ranked No. 83 on the list:
Though the endings of the Jimmy Butler experience can be grating—just ask the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat—the beginnings and middle are mostly awesome. At the height of his powers, he is a two-way force who serves as a singular bridge between fringe title contention and borderline irrelevance.
This was most evident during his time in Miami, where his ability to flip a postseason switch went mostly unrivaled. He dragged rosters that had no business making deep playoff pushes to three Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals in four years.
The best version of Butler is anomalous in its completeness. He has long left much to be desired as a jump-shooter, but he can play the part of your top scorer, foul-drawer, passer and defender.
Butler’s time with the Sixers was short, but the future Hall of Famer did a lot of good things in Philadelphia and should be remembered fondly by fans. Things just didn’t work out between the two sides and that happens at times.