8/12/2023 0 Comments Caron butler coachOn July 14, 2004, Butler was traded along with Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and two draft picks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Shaq. He also grabbed the attention of the Los Angeles Lakers.īutler became a crucial part of the blockbuster deal that moved Shaquille O’Neal from the West to the East. Starting only thirteen games for the Heat, he averaged 12.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.15 steals per game. He still managed to score double figures 33 times, and led the Heat to a playoff appearance. The league took note of his outstanding rookie campaign as he finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year balloting.īutler expected to build off of his tremendous rookie season, but he was forced to sit out of several games in the 2003-2004 Season due to injuries. He also held a team record of 65 games with double figure scoring. By the end of the season, Butler led the Heat in points (1,201), steals (134), minutes played (2,528), field goals made (429), field goals attempted (1,032), free throws made (309), and free throws attempted (375). As only the sixth player in league history to receive the honor four times or more, Butler joins the company of players such as Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan. He averaged 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, which helped him earn Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors four times. During his rookie season, he caught the attention of the entire league. Coming off of such an extraordinary season, Butler decided the time was right to declare for the 2002 NBA Draft.īutler was a lottery pick in the NBA draft, selected tenth overall by the Miami Heat. His leadership and dominant play also helped the Huskies advance to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. He was named Co-Big East Player of the Year and made Second-Team, All-American. Averaging 20.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, Butler led UConn to an outright Big East Championship in 2002. He returned to UConn with an even greater competitive edge. The summer between his freshman and sophomore year at UConn, Butler helped lead the United States to a gold medal in one of the most prestigious international basketball tournaments, the 2001 FIBA World Championship for Young Men. As a freshman, Butler led the entire team in scoring and rebounding with 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He showed up to camp ready to compete, and compete he did. During his years there, Butler polished his game and earned a scholarship to play for Coach Jim Calhoun at the legendary Big East powerhouse, the University of Connecticut.īefore he even started a game for the Huskies, Butler demonstrated his competitive spirit as he worked out and lost 15 pounds off of his six foot seven inch frame in order to improve his agility. With a renewed enthusiasm and hunger for success, Butler moved to Maine to attend Maine Central Institute. After seeing her pain, he knew he had to change. He says one of the most defining moments was watching his mother’s eyes as he rode away in the back of a squad car the last of fifteen times before he turned 15. However, Butler credits his trouble-ridden past for providing him with the motivation he needed to transform his life. He was a standout basketball player at Racine Park High School, but playing professional basketball and getting out of Racine did not even seem within the realm of possibility, especially considering the propensity he had for running into trouble with the law. He came from a troubled background, growing up on the streets of Racine, Wisconsin. Though Butler now finds himself as a NBA-league veteran, the road to becoming a successful basketball player was not an easy one for him. This commitment to aggressive yet passionate play led former-coach Eddie Jordan to give Butler the nickname “Tuff Juice.” It is this style of play that has solidified Butler as one of the most prominent forwards in the game today. Butler defends the basket with ferocity, and challenges anyone who stands in his way. He is receptive to his coaches and to his teammates, he is reliable on and off the court, and he constantly thinks about what he can do to benefit the team and his community. His competitive drive is accompanied by a winning mindset and he approaches every situation with a positive attitude. He trains mercilessly, studies intently, and plays tenaciously. Caron Butler plays basketball with an edge.
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