Utah Jazz: You need to see these Jared Butler moves

No doubt Utah Jazz rookie Jared Butler is ready for primetime playing time.

It seems 2021 Baylor national champ Jared Butler, who inexplicably fell to No. 40 overall at the NBA Draft, understands the rarity of a second-rounder receiving regular minutes as a rookie for a franchise that had the NBA’s best record the previous regular season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Utah Jazz guard implied as much to the media on Wednesday night:

“If I’m a head coach and playing with the team with the best record in the league, why do I need to put this rookie in? That’s how I’m looking at it, and I’m just trying to make the case of why you should.”

He sure is.

Those comments came shortly after Butler’s eye-popping efforts in helping Utah snag a 124-120 home victory over the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks in the team’s preseason finale.

Must-see plays by the new Utah Jazz playmaker

Just have a look at the entire collection of Jared Butler highlights below that the Jazz Twitter account enthusiastically advertised as he tallied 16 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals in 22 minutes of action off the bench.

ALSO READ: The skill that will earn Jared Butler minutes right away

The first highlight was arguably the best, with Butler displaying his beyond-his-years faking ability, impressive change of speeds, and ultra-soft touch off the glass:

https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1448467139917008898

Then there was this gem, which showcases Butler’s in-the-moment perseverance and remarkable awareness after a dribbling miscue:

Next, Butler exhibited his smooth outside stroke and courage to attempt the shot over the 26-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo, who boasts a 7-foot-3 wingspan and has already collected every type of MVP hardware:

Need more evidence that Butler was born for the biggest stage? Well, here’s another of his potentially unguardable crossovers:

And then here’s additional proof of his prowess in the distribution department:

Yes, we might be watching the eventual partner in crime to Donovan Mitchell in the Jazz’s starting backcourt once the Mike Conley era ends via retirement or begins to fizzle.

Due to an illness, Butler missed one of Utah’s preseason games. Still, with his three appearances, the 21-year-old posted three team-high averages: 18.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 24.0 minutes per game.

Jared Butler and the Utah Jazz, who finished 2-2 in the preseason, will begin their 2021-22 regular season with a home bout against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 7 p.m. MT next Wednesday.