Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard Jimmy Butler did not play at all during last night's All-Star Game simply because he needed some rest.
“Just rest, man,” Butler told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I got to rest. I got to rest my body up. I know this Timberwolves season is very, very important to me. I’ve got to be ready to roll when I get back there.”
Obviously, the Timberwolves season is more important to Butler than playing in an All-Star Game but his decision to sit on the bench didn't go unnoticed. Los Angeles Clippers point guard Lou Williams had a real shot at making his first All-Star team this year and he took to twitter last night to question Butler for not taking advantage of his opportunity.
Williams, 31, is averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game along with 5.3 assists so far this season.
Some rumors suggested the real reason Butler didn't play was because he was out partying into the early hours on Sunday, but Team Stephen coach Mike D'Antoni said he was really just tired and had not practiced all weekend. “He was tired and he just felt like his legs weren’t there,” D’Antoni said, per the NY Post. “He didn’t practice [Saturday] or play [Sunday]. You have to respect that. He plays hard. Sometimes your body just needs a rest.”
The Wolves are currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 36-25 record, just 3.5 games up on the 9th place Los Angeles Clippers.
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