Newly-acquired Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade made certain there would be no speculation on who would be the focal point of the Bulls team this coming season. Wade confidently declared that the Bulls would be led by All-Star forward Jimmy Butler.
Wade was officially introduced as a Bull to the Chicago local media on Friday and he said, "This is Jimmy Butler's team," according to a report by The Vertical. Wade also recounted his days as a young Miami Heat and Team USA player, when the Heat were able to recruit All-NBA center Shaquille O'Neal from the Los Angeles Lakers. During that time, Wade recalled that O'Neal made no hesitation in declaring the Heat were Wade's team.
"I saw how Shaq handled it. I was 24 and playing for the U.S. team at the same time Shaq joined the Heat, and now Jimmy is 26 and he's playing for the U.S. team," Wade said.
Wade also said that Butler was instrumental in his move to his hometown Bulls, saying that Butler called him and told him he wanted to play alongside the former Heat franchise player, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Butler though, for his part, downplayed the notion that the Bulls are now his team, calling himself just a "kid from Tomball, Texas." Wade and fellow new recruit Rajon Rondo however, disputed that and said they would lead as veterans do but remained firm that the Bulls are Butler's team.
Wade also declared that they are all working on a common goal - winning. That remains to be seen as cohesion could be a possible problem with the make-up of this current Bulls squad. Wade and Rondo are not particularly known as long-range shooters, so opening up the floor could be a potential problem as the season progresses. One thing is for sure though, both of them will bring valuable championship experience and veteran leadership both on the court and in the locker room.
Former franchise stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have moved on to the New York Knicks and with both Wade and Rondo's endorsements, there is little doubt that the Chicago Bulls are Jimmy Butler's team.
Here are some Jimmy Butler highlights from his career-high scoring game: