The NBA All-Star game is meaningless outside of the fun for the fans and the break for (most of) the players, but the game’s participants can get pretty into it.
Some of them, anyway.
Four-time All-Star Jimmy Butler sat out for the entirety of the 2018 All-Star game despite being present at practice and warming up with the team.
His absence was completely rest-related and did not happen because of an injury, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Later, he told the Star Tribune’s Jerry Zgoda the same thing.
“Just rest, man,” Butler said. “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.”
The fun he had at practice backs that up, too.
While Butler didn’t get any time on the floor, he didn’t miss an opportunity to clown on some fellow All-Stars during team practice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mw8ja4D_eE
Meanwhile, his teammate – both on the Timberwolves and on Team Steph Curry – and first-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns had one of the more notable stat lines of the game.
In just 18 minutes of play, he finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting.
His highlights weren’t at the top of the game’s list, but he did throw down one putback slam.
Despite the slam and some great plays from team Steph, team LeBron was able to pull out a close win with Towns and (of course) Butler on the bench.
With the game concluded, the pair now gets nearly a week to recuperate before their return to the floor Friday night at home against the Houston Rockets.
Here are the game’s full highlights, in case you missed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vivw0S2_cmw
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