Philadelphia 76ers’ guard Jared Butler appreciates every step of the journey.
Some of those steps, he made look so easy. Like this time four years ago when he marched right through all the madness of March to lead Baylor to its first ever national championship while earning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. he still gets emotional today watching the NCAA Tournament.
And there were the steps that weren’t so easy. Just a few months after that magical Final Four run, he waited longer than expected to hear his name called at his NBA draft party at the Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace. He fell to the second round, starting his roller coaster of an NBA ride.
Butler, a Reserve native, is now with his fourth NBA team in as many seasons. His NBA career started with the Utah Jazz with stops along the way with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Washington Wizards. He’s played on 2-way contracts, bouncing back and forth some between the NBA and the G League.
But through it all, the Reserve native who was this publication’s Player of the Year after a stellar high school career at Riverside Academy, has endured.
“It’s been a journey for sure,” Butler said Monday night. “Ups and downs. Some highs and lows. I think the Lord has been faithful and allowed me to have some opportunities and allowed me to capitalize on some opportunities.”
He’s been with the 76ers for about six weeks now, acquired in a February trade with the Wizards for Reggie Jackson. That trade led Butler back to Louisiana Monday when the 76ers came to New Orleans to play the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. This was Butler’s second trip to Smoothie King Center this season. He played a game here while with the Wizards in early January, but only played a little over a minute in that one. This time he was a starter.
"Other times I came here, I wasn’t playing a ton," Butler said. "Those times it was more like ‘I wish I could be out there playing.' So I'm glad I got some burn today and just thankful for that."
This was Butler's ninth start since joining the 76ers.
“He’s really got some game,” said 76ers coach Nick Nurse. “He really knows how to play the game. I like that he’s a true point guard. He sees a lot of the situation. He’s a good leader and really great as a coach on the floor and in timeouts. A really positive force. So we are just giving him as many minutes as he can handle right now to see if he can improve.”
Butler finished with a team-high 19 points, the second most he’s scored in a 76ers' uniform. His career-high is 26, scored with the Wizards in a game in January. In addition to his 19 points in Monday’s 112-99 loss to the Pelicans, Butler also had two rebounds, two assists and two steals. He shot 8-of-16 from the floor, including 3-of-7 on 3-pointers. The three 3-pointers also tied a season high.
Butler estimates that he had about 25 family members and friends in attendance. It included his parents Richard and Juanea, who wore their No. 12 76ers jerseys in section 113. They have watched their son play in this arena before, back when Butler was in the fifth grade just dreaming to one day play in the NBA.
“You think about it and now I’m starting in the NBA,” Butler said. “It’s really crazy.”
Only 10 games remain this season. The 76ers have long been eliminated from playoff contention. So Butler’s goal for what’s left in his fourth NBA season?
“Just get better and use this as a runway to the next season.”