THE TAKE
Jimmy Butler is the best player in the world. I don’t care.
BOLDNESS
92/100
GRADE
4/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
Jimmy Butler
GRADING CRITERIA
This take would be considered TRUE if Jimmy Butler wins NBA MVP, Finals MVP, or is named to the All-NBA First Team for the 2022-23 season, and is widely regarded by analysts and advanced metrics as the top overall player in the league. Given the presence of Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and others, consensus would need to broadly shift to Butler as the clear No. 1 player in the world.
bold callhot takecontrarianunfalsifiablerecency bias
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSEJimmy Butler was not close to being recognized as the best player in the world in the 2022-23 season. Joel Embiid won NBA MVP, and Nikola Jokic won the NBA Finals MVP after the Denver Nuggets defeated Butler's Miami Heat in five games. Butler did win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, but he did not make All-NBA First Team, did not win NBA MVP or Finals MVP, and the consensus among analysts and advanced metrics placed Jokic, Embiid, and Giannis well above Butler in best-player discussions.