Caron Butler

From the sure-to-be-competitive battle of Florida to the pair of All-Star forwards standing opposite of him on the perimeter, Caron Butler would’ve been hard pressed finding a more challenging matchup to begin his NBA career. Nonetheless finding his style to be a hand-in-glove fit for the Miami Heat from Day One, the 2002 No. 10 pick illustrated his worth through a fitting method: by putting his hand through the rim. Earning a temporary break from the responsibilities of defending soon-to-be scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Butler, upon recognizing Miami’s defensive stop, leaks out in transition in hopes of seizing a two-on-one situation. Like a locomotive at peak speed, Butler keeps focused even amidst Darrell Armstrong’s steal attempt, ultimately exploding into the lane for a one-handed hammer, drawing the crowd’s applause. Orlando would have the last laugh on October 30, 2002, using a second quarter run to spur a game-long advantage throughout. Effective even so, Butler — eventually commanding the Heat’s single-season rookie record for points scored (1,201) and a third-place Rookie of the Year finish — impressed in his debut, tossing in 16 points (on 8-of-14 shooting), seven rebounds, and three assists.

Rookie Year

Rookie Premiere