Jared Butler is the player of fashion in Salt Lake City. The Utah Jazz rookie has received a great deal of praise from his teammates during training camp that has now become an illusion from the fans.
Taking advantage of the absences of some of the key players, Butler has led his team in scoring in both preseason games played by the Jazz. In the first, 16 points against the San Antonio Spurs. In the last, another 22 against the Dallas Mavericks. A production that invites optimism despite the fact that both commitments ended in defeat.
Although there is a significant dose of enthusiasm for what he has shown and the type of player he can become, the organization wanted to convey a common sentiment around the NBA premiere of the 40th pick in the 2021 draft: patience .
«It is the most important thing. We have an offense that is complicated, a defense that is also difficult. There is a lot of information you are receiving, “said Donovan Mitchell in a few words collected by the middle Salt Lake Tribune. «It will have its role. It is part of our group. He is confident in himself and his game, but the most important thing is to learn things. You won’t learn it overnight. I can tell you that he is a boy who will want to be perfect in every training session and it will not always be that way. You just have to be patient. “
A line of reasoning shared by Quin Snyder. The coach has highlighted the work done by the MVP of the NCAA tournament but pointed out that he is not yet ready to cut minutes in the rotation for players like Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles or Mitchell himself.
“For Jared everything will be a work of patience,” began the head coach. You can be really competitive and hungry and still be patient. When I say ‘patience’ I mean being ready to make an impact when an opportunity presents itself. And understand that the impact it may have on the team will be different due to the composition of the team. There will be injuries and foul problems. You just have to keep working, stay hungry, and not get frustrated if the opportunity doesn’t come right away. “
Butler himself has openly acknowledged the acclimatization process to the team and the NBA that awaits him ahead. He is aware that the players he will face are faster, stronger and more skilled than those he measured in college, as well as a much longer and more demanding schedule. “Rudy Gay has been in the league for 16 years and I am 21,” joked the rookie. “After training they go home with their children and I go home to play video games. It’s all very different. “
In this way, this possible initial discomfort has been erased by the player’s willingness to acknowledge his situation, to work on his improvement and to absorb as much as possible from his teammates. «We talk about situations that we see. He loves receiving information, ”continued Mitchell. “He sucks in everything and is quick to ask questions. He doesn’t act like he knows the answer and is willing to listen. “
This is what Butler himself admits. It depends on the type of person you are. Are you able to handle criticism? Can you bear what they tell you? Visualize what someone says to you and then replicate it on the court? I learn pretty fast. And when Donovan says something to me, I say to myself, ‘Okay, if it works for him, I’ll make it work for me too.’
Snyder also shared that this player’s predisposition will prove positive for the group’s chemistry and his own adaptation to the team. “He has a very mature perspective. That will serve him not only now with this team but throughout his career, “added the Jazz head coach. “He is joining a team that is not perfect but had some success last year. But you have the opportunity to observe and learn. He will not only be trained by me, but also by Mike, Donovan and Joe. And that’s a real advantage, especially in the long run. “
(Cover photo by Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)
