Jared Butler turned heads in preseason
After not playing at all in Summer League, Utah Jazz fans got their first glimpse of the rookie guard against the Spurs in the team’s first preseason game and Butler delivered, scoring 16 points on 6-15 shooting and he also had 2 assists and 2 steals.
Against the Mavericks in his second preseason game, Jared Butler had 22 points (9-18 FG), plus 4 assists, and in his most recent performance on Wednesday night against the Bucks, the rookie guard scored 16 points on 7-12 shooting, 2-6 from three-point range, and he also had 7 assists and 2 steals.
“That group, I really challenged them to lift their level, whether it be defensively or running,” Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder stated in regards to his young core after his team’s victory over the Bucks on Wednesday night. “He (Butler) was the catalyst for them. … I thought those guys did a really good job when they were in. It’s important because those minutes coming in, being ready right away to compete. … Those little things take focus. We make them important, and I thought those guys really did that more and more as the game progressed for them.”
With guys like Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Jordan Clarkson being the primary assets in Utah’s backcourt, it could be hard for Jared Butler to crack this team’s rotation, especially since Utah is coming off a 52-20 season, which was the best record in the league last year.
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“I think it’s all about trust,” Butler said. “If I’m the head coach with the team with the best record in the league, (I’m thinking), ‘Why do I need to put in this rookie?’ And that’s how I’m looking at it, and I’m just trying to make the case of why you should.”
So far, Jared Butler has done all the right things in the preseason and as a result, he is going to have the attention of this coaching staff. He is obviously not going to be as impactful as other rookies like Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Jalen Green (Rockets), and others this season, but there is no reason why Butler cannot continue to work his way into being a reliable bench performer for this team.
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He is a rookie, but Jared Butler is an experienced 21-year-old who was the leader of a National Championship team in college. Butler knows what it takes to win and on a team that has been accustomed to winning over the years, he will definitely hold a role in the rotation come midseason.
