After signing his new $90 million contract, Jimmy Butler was so eager to start the new season and enjoy the new freedom under a new coach to run a faster and a more efficient offense. He made a silly bet with his trainer that he could play all 82 games being in top physical conditioning.
In fact, Butler himself volunteered to play point guard during the summer and prove that he could sync with Fred Hoiberg’s new running game.
When the Bulls were having a heyday at the beginning of the season, Butler was playing his A-game — team defense and not minding his box score — claiming it would come as the season wore on.