Intro:

Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler discusses being named the NBA's Most Improved Player after earning his first All-Star selection and setting career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls guard:

"First off I'd like to thank my team-mates because without them it definitely wouldn't be possible from our coaches and Tibbs (Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau) and all his assistants for putting up with everything that I put them through for my four years of being here, and definitely for Goran and Pax for giving me the opportunity to represent this organization for the 30th (draft) pick in 2011. I feel like I've come a long, long, long, long way from Tomball, Texas and I couldn't be more proud. I feel like the Bulls are just as proud of me but more than anything back in Tomball, my family my brothers - two of them are right here - they deserve a lot of this credit because they have to put up with me being moody when we lose and when I don't play well and then you move forward to Tyler Junior College and coach Mike Marquis seeing something in myself that I didn't see at that age and him giving me a chance to play for the Apaches was really big and then you move on to Buzz, and Buzz brought me to Marquette and he taught me that your confidence it only comes from your work, so this summer I put in an incredible amount of work to get to where I am today... I just want to get another trophy and I want to win that championship. I think that's the final goal and last the fans here the fans all around the world that are watching this and that have supported me. I feel like I wouldn't be here without y'all and it truly is a blessing to be able to stand here and be the most improved player."