CHICAGO -- Harrison Barnes is in his fifth NBA season and has spiked his scoring average from 10.1 points in his first four seasons to 20.7 this season.
For his first three seasons, Chicago's Jimmy Butler averaged 8.9 points.
The last three seasons, he's averaged 21.5 points, including a career-best 24.9 this season and will get strong consideration for a starting spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
These somewhat parallel career paths are interesting, without guaranteeing anything about the continued growth of Barnes, who certainly rates consideration for the NBA's most improved player at this point in the season.