Thunder End of the Year Report Card: Jared Butler
It's impossible to fully grade Jared Butler's season with the small sample size we were given.
Butler was signed by the Thunder on March 3, and quickly given a two-way contract to suit up for the Oklahoma City Blue too. Before making his way to the Thunder, he averaged 18.0 points and 5.7 assists per game in the G League, commanding the floor as a point guard.
The 6-foot-3 floor general’s reputation stretches beyond the NBA, as he was one of the better college point guards in recent memory. He led the Baylor Bears to a national championship in 2021, and was both a First Team All-Big 12 and a Big 12 All Defensive Team selection.
Overall Grade: B
Having a leader in the organization is always a positive, and Butler brings plenty of great qualities — whether it’s with the Blue or the Thunder. He’s simply a winner, and the team’s move to acquire him at the deadline proves he was on OKC’s radar.
Butler only appeared in six games for the Thunder but was a consistent player in limited minutes. He was able to showcase his high-level 3-point shooting ability and command the offense at a desirable pace. His stats across the board were well up from his first stint in the NBA, his rookie season in Utah.
Offensively
In a limited about of games with the OKC Blue, Butler averaged 14.3 points and 8.8 assists per game. It was clear that he wanted to work on his passing skills and become a true point guard in the NBA, and got to do just that for the Thunder’s G League affiliate. Butler averaged just 1.0 turnovers per game, an incredible assist-to-turnover ratio.
He took the floor just six times for the Thunder at the end of the season, but displayed his shooting stroke that was apparent throughout college. Butler averaged 6.2 points and 1.3 assists in those contests, shooting 46.9% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range. His outside shot could be a swing factor in the NBA moving forward, as shooting is at an absolute premium in the league.
Defensively
Defensively, Butler held his own for the Thunder. With any player, it takes time to adjust to the NBA and the physicality of the league, and Butler will become more comfortable with more minutes.
He averaged 0.8 steals per game with both the Blue and the Thunder, helping the team on both ends of the floor. After being such a great defender in college, it’ll be interesting to analyze his defensive ceiling down the road.
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