Two of the NBA’s best players – Chicago’s Jimmy Butler and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard – will square off Monday when the Bulls take on the Spurs at the United Center.
Before the matchup, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had high praise for Butler.
Popovich on Jimmy Butler: "He's been on the same trajectory as Kawhi Leonard; they get better every year and play both ends of the court."
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) November 30, 2015
Popovich on Butler: "You can look at teams and start counting how many players play at both ends at a high level. There are not that many."
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) November 30, 2015
While they continue to put up all-star numbers, both players are often overlooked when discussing the best players in the league.
On a team that always seems to stay out of the spotlight despite being one of the best in the league every year, Leonard’s 2015 has also been overshadowed by Steph Curry and Golden State.
In his fourth NBA season, Leonard is leading the Spurs with 22 points and eight rebounds per game.
And even as Jimmy Butler averages more than 20 points per game for the second-consecutive season, Derrick Rose continues to dominate headlines in Chicago.
Both players rank in the top 10 in the NBA in real plus/minus and in the top 11 in wins above replacement, according to ESPN.
The best Bulls player to wear each number
[FBTW]
