Butler started in all of his 77 games in the 2004–2005 season, averaging 15.5 points a game with a then career high field goal percentage of 44.5% percent. The Lakers had been a title contender but were now in rebuilding mode, led by superstar guard Kobe Bryant. Following the season, Miami decided to change the roster and traded Butler, Odom and Brian Grant to the Los Angeles Lakers for superstar center Shaquille O'Neal. Butler scored 21 points with 10 rebounds in the fourth game, but the Pacers responded to win the series in 6 games. The Heat advanced to the play the top seeded Indiana Pacers, who were heavily favored and won the first two games of the series before Miami responded with two home wins to tie the series at 2 games apiece. In game 7, Miami closed out the series with Butler scoring 23 points with 9 rebounds. In the first round, the Heat faced the New Orleans Hornets and the two teams would battle in a grueling 7 games series in which the home team won every game. His scoring average fell to 9.2 points game for the season, but Miami's balanced offense led by Wade, Odom and Eddie Jones propelled Miami into the playoffs. In the 2003–2004 season, however, Butler struggled with injuries that hampered him throughout the season, and he would go on to start in just 56 of 68 games. Miami would again enter the draft lottery, and this time drafted Dwyane Wade before acquiring Lamar Odom from the Los Angeles Clippers. By season's end, Butler would also be named to the first team on the NBA All-Rookie Team. Despite Miami winning just 25 games and missing the playoffs, Butler proved to be a notable rookie, winning the rookie of the month awards four times during the season while also getting selected to play in the rookie challenge game at that year's All-Star weekend in Atlanta. Miami would rely on Butler immediately despite being a rookie, and he would start in all 78 games he played in during the season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and finished 8th in the league in steals with 1.8 per game. NBA career Miami Heat (2002–2004) īutler was a lottery pick in the 2002 NBA draft, selected with the 10th overall pick by the rebuilding Miami Heat. After the season ended, Butler declared for the NBA draft. Despite 32 points from Butler, the Huskies lost a close game to the eventual national champion Maryland Terrapins. Butler led the Huskies to the Elite 8 of the NCAA basketball tournament. He was named co-Big East player of the year (along with Pittsburgh's Brandin Knight) and a second-team All-American. īutler followed his spectacular freshman campaign with an even better sophomore season, averaging 20.3 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game, leading the Huskies to both regular season and tournament Big East titles, and was named Big East tournament MVP. The summer after his freshman season he started for the US team that took home gold in the 2001 FIBA World Championship for Young Men. As a freshman, Butler led the Huskies, only two years removed from a national championship, in both scoring and rebounding with 15.3 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game respectively. After a brief career at Racine Park High School, he enrolled at Maine Central Institute where he was successful enough to receive a scholarship to attend the University of Connecticut to play for the Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team for coach Jim Calhoun for two years.Īt Connecticut, Butler lost 15 pounds (6.8 kg) off his frame and developed his perimeter game. Butler played in Amateur Athletic Union basketball in 19. Butler discovered his love for basketball while at a youth detention center. Butler is a two-time NBA All-Star and was the 2002 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, while playing for the Connecticut Huskies.īutler was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin, where he suffered through a rough childhood he was a drug dealer at age 12 and arrested 15 times before the age of 15. During a 14-year career he played for the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). James Caron Butler (born March 13, 1980) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Butler with the Washington Wizards in 2007
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