Report: Jimmy Butler expected to be named Most Improved Player

Jimmy Butler doesn't want to talk about being labeled one of the game's top players, but it sounds as if the All-Star swingman will be bestowed at least one more honor.

The Most Improved Player award is the only individual trophy that's yet to be handed out this season, and it was expected to be contested by Butler, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and perhaps big men Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside.

Butler posted career highs nearly across the board, averaging 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals on a True Shooting Percentage of 58.3.

Butler's defense slipped somewhat as he adjusted to the rigors of greater offensive responsibility - he had a career-high usage rate of 21.6 percent - but the 25-year-old remains one of the best two-way stars in the game.

Most impressive of all, Butler accomplished the rare feat of becoming a much more efficient scorer despite a considerable increase in his usage, emerging as perhaps the Chicago Bulls' best overall player during another injury-ravaged campaign for the club.

Butler himself missed 17 games due to a variety of injuries, most notably a sprained elbow that kept him out of action for three weeks in March, but he was as dependable as ever for head coach Tom Thibodeau when healthy, leading the league at 38.7 minutes per game (the same number he averaged last season).

The Bulls are in Cleveland for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday, with Game 3 set for Friday night in Chicago.