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Bulls' Butler critical of season: 'I ain't done (expletive), man'

USA Today Sports

Averaging the best numbers of his career en route to a starting nod with the Eastern Conference All-Stars in New Orleans isn't enough for Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler to give himself a pat on the back for a job well done.

"I ain't done (expletive) man," Butler told the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson. "What's our record, around .500? That's no better than last year. So I'm not impressed. If I can help this team win, that's how I judge myself. And I don't think I'm doing a very good job of that."

He may feel he's not doing enough to help the Windy City thrive in the win column, but his on-off numbers paint a different picture, showing a team that would be in dire straits without him. Chicago's offense is 9.2 points per 100 possessions better when Butler is on the floor, and the defense gives up 3.3 more points per 100 possessions when he sits.

The Bulls escaped United Center with a narrow 102-99 victory over the visiting Sacramento Kings on Saturday night following a controversial foul call that sent Dwyane Wade to the free-throw line during the dying moments of the fourth quarter. Butler scored 23 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out seven assists in 39 minutes.

The 27-year-old swingman has been on the record saying how being named an All-Star starter would mean "absolutely nothing" to him, concerning himself more with the success of his team and less with personal accolades.

This will be the third year in a row Butler partakes in the midseason exhibition, and his first as a starter. He finished fifth in fan voting, and third in both player and media voting under the league's new All-Star voting system.

Related: Wade only committed to Bulls if Butler stays

With just a 22-23 record, though, Butler places the onus of Chicago's struggles on himself as he takes on more of a leadership role, even with veteran superstar Dwyane Wade as his running mate. He even publicly called his team out after Friday's nine-point loss to the Atlanta Hawks, claiming the Bulls weren't prepared from the opening tip or playing 48 minutes of basketball.

His usage rate has jumped nearly a full three points from last season to 27.1 percent, boosting his player efficiency rating to a career-best 25.7 in the process. Playing the fifth-most minutes per game in the Association (36.7), Butler is averaging 24.7 points on 45.4 percent shooting to go with 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.7 steals over 43 total appearances.

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