Sunday night featured one of the most competitive NBA All-Star games in recent history, but one of the NBA's best players didn't play- by choice.
Despite being one of the NBA's best 2-way players, the key to Minnesota's best winning percentage since the 2003-2004 season decided to sit out of the All-Star game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have posted a 39.6% winning percentage over 29 seasons, but currently sit at 59.0% and proud owners of the 4th seed in the Western Conference at 36-25.
Sitting just one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for 3rd place in the West, it would make sense for Butler to take the All-Star weekend easy so that he can have enough in the tank to propel the Wolves to homecourt advantage. This was the rationale that Butler gave himself, when citing how important this season was to him. It seems odd to request to completely sit out the game when even the Spurs allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to play some (a franchise known for resting players).
However, many fans and media members have been quick to point out that the game being in Los Angeles and Butler not feeling well can hardly be viewed as a coincidence.
Whether Butler didn't play because he was incredibly hungover from a night out in Los Angeles or he chose to sit for the minimal injury risk- it is very unusual for a player to completely skip a game without injuries. Even Joel Embiid managed to play significant minutes in the game.
We'll see if the league opts to fine Butler for not playing.
For now, it remains an interesting wrinkle from a stellar All-Star game.
Despite being one of the NBA's best 2-way players, the key to Minnesota's best winning percentage since the 2003-2004 season decided to sit out of the All-Star game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have posted a 39.6% winning percentage over 29 seasons, but currently sit at 59.0% and proud owners of the 4th seed in the Western Conference at 36-25.
Sitting just one game behind the San Antonio Spurs for 3rd place in the West, it would make sense for Butler to take the All-Star weekend easy so that he can have enough in the tank to propel the Wolves to homecourt advantage. This was the rationale that Butler gave himself, when citing how important this season was to him. It seems odd to request to completely sit out the game when even the Spurs allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to play some (a franchise known for resting players).
However, many fans and media members have been quick to point out that the game being in Los Angeles and Butler not feeling well can hardly be viewed as a coincidence.
Whether Butler didn't play because he was incredibly hungover from a night out in Los Angeles or he chose to sit for the minimal injury risk- it is very unusual for a player to completely skip a game without injuries. Even Joel Embiid managed to play significant minutes in the game.
We'll see if the league opts to fine Butler for not playing.
For now, it remains an interesting wrinkle from a stellar All-Star game.
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