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Jimmy Butler’s absence from the NBA All-Star roster apparently isn’t because the Miami Heat star was snubbed.
According to Ethan J. Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports Network, the NBA reportedly offered an All-Star spot to Butler in the wake of Kevin Durant’s hamstring injury. The 31-year-old turned down the offer because Bam Adebayo wasn’t also invited, which resulted in the spot being given to Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis.
“For those who were questioning why Jimmy (Butler) wasn’t named to the All-Star team when (Kevin) Durant went out, and it was (Domantas) Sabonis, I can tell you that the NBA wanted to name him to the All-Star team,” Skolnick said. “He wasn’t going unless Bam was going.”
The Heat are on a five-game winning streak, and it’s largely due to the play of Butler and Adebayo. Butler, a five-time All-Star, is averaging 20.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 21.9% from deep.
Adebayo, who made the All-Star Game last season, is averaging a career-high 19.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 56.9% from the floor and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Several NBA players have criticized the league’s decision to host the All-Star Game amid the ongoing pandemic, but Butler’s refusal to participate appears to stem only from the fact that Adebayo wasn’t also selected.
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