Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors have been named the NBA’s Players of the Week as both players, especially Butler, have lighted up the scoreboard in recent play. Butler averaged a stat line of 38 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in three wins for the Bulls while Curry averaged 31.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game for the high-octane Warriors.
#NBA Players of the Week! @JimmyButler of the @chicagobulls (38ppg 9.3rpg 6.3apg) @StephenCurry30 of the @warriors (31.8ppg 5.5apg 4.5rpg) pic.twitter.com/PJOjO1w4oa
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2017
Butler has three games of 40-plus points in his last six games, including a 52-point, 12 rebound game in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Amid talk about the Bulls maybe parting ways via trade from Butler, he has made it increasingly difficult for them to do so since he is the Bulls best player.
The Bulls have sputtered to a 19-18 record since signing Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo over the summer, but that has not stopped Butler from playing the best basketball of his young career. If the Bulls are seriously considering moving on from their star player, there will be many teams vying for the services of him as he has proven he can carry a team solely on his own.
Curry has seemingly found his shooting stroke from last season when he broke his own record fro three-pointers made. In a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night, he finished with 40 points; his second-most point total this season.
The addition of Kevin Durant to the Warriors has Curry playing behind the spotlight but has not in any way hindered his play. If the Warriors want to end the season they want it to and how many fans expect them to, Curry will need to play at a high level for the rest of the season.
