If you’ve paid any attention to Jimmy Butler’s comments regarding the All-Star Game over the past few weeks, then perhaps it’s not a surprise that he didn’t appear in the contest on Sunday in Los Angeles.
While it would be a bit odd, and perhaps unprecedented, for a player to simply not play because they didn’t want to in the All-Star Game, the real reason for Butler’s absence is anyone’s guess.
TNT’s David Aldridge reported on the air shortly after halftime that Butler was “under the weather” and may only play limited minutes, if at all. Then there was this from NBC SportsChicago reporter Vincent Goodwill:
Jimmy Butler didn't play in the first half for Team Steph.