DALLAS – Jimmy Butler returned to Dallas on Dec. 27 with the Chicago Bulls a changed man.

Not only is Butler, 26, – averaging 21.4 points, five rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season in 28 games – coming off a season where he was an NBA All-Star for the first time, but the former Tyler Junior College standout is also playing for a new head coach in Fred Hoiberg.

Several weeks ago, Butler was in the news for questioning some of Hoiberg’s decisions late in an overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons, but no matter whether it’s Hoiberg or now-former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, the only coach Butler had known in the NBA until he was fired after last season, calling the shots the goal remains the same.

“It hasn’t been a big adjustment,” Butler said of now playing for Hoiberg. “Basketball is basketball. That’s a good question, I don’t know (exactly what the biggest difference has been). I just think basketball is basketball.

“We just got to go out there and play no matter who coaching us, listen to what he has to say and try to execute it to the best of our abilities, just got to go out there and get wins no matter what coach we got.”

On Christmas Day, the Bulls defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-96 at Chesapeake Energy Arena, and Butler, who had 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and four rebounds, definitely did his part.

However, the following night in Dallas against the Mavericks at American Airlines Center, it was a different story. Butler was 4-of-11 from the field and got eight of his 17 points at the foul line. He dished out eight assists in the 118-111 loss to the Mavs, but his five turnovers and poor shooting made him take responsibility for the loss on the second night of a back-to-back.

“No, if anybody, (this loss) is on me. Five turnovers, didn’t make no shots. That’s not my role. I didn’t do my job,” Butler said. “(Derrick Rose) did his. It’s definitely not on him, I can tell you that much.”

Butler feels he and his teammates are starting to again see the version of Derrick Rose, who has battled injuries throughout his career, who won NBA MVP honors in 2011, which in turn makes all his teammates better players.

“Every shot that he takes, I think, is going in. He thinks the same thing,” Butler said. “That’s fine with us, when he’s attacking, being aggressive and getting everybody involved like he did, it gives us a great chance to win the game.”

Unfortunately for Butler and the Bulls, Saturday ended in a loss. But despite the seven-point setback in Dallas, he still relished the chance to return to Texas, something he never tires of.

“Yeah, I like being in Texas, get to see my people, they get to see me play. I don’t get to come back that often but it’s special to be here,” Butler said.

– Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco.