- Report: Miami Heat release injury update on Jimmy Butler after scary moment vs. Phoenix Suns
- Ja Morant expresses no sympathy for Miami Heat having to play 8 games in 12 days
- Report: Miami Heat will have interest in Mike Conley this offseason
- Dwyane Wade unveils reason why Erik Spoelstra benched him after he dropped 50 points in 3 quarters
- Dwyane Wade honored that Kobe Bryant paid him one-of-a-kind compliment in his book
- Jimmy Butler on why Miami Heat’s defense has been elite: ‘We got rid of Derrick Jones Jr.’
- Report: Kendrick Nunn partners with NBPA to help single fathers in Chicago
- Report: Victor Oladipo to seek specialist’s evaluation regarding timetable for knee injury
- Erik Spoelstra declines to answer whether Victor Oladipo will play for Miami Heat again this season
- Dewayne Dedmon offers fantastic response when asked what he’s willing to do for Miami Heat
Report: NBA spokesman denies that Jimmy Butler rejected All-Star Game invitation
- Updated: March 2, 2021

An NBA spokesperson denied a report that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler rejected an invitation to the All-Star Game.
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players are required to play in the game unless they are injured or have another reason that the league’s commissioner deems acceptable.
An NBA spokesperson denied that Jimmy Butler rejected an All-Star invitation, per NBC Sports
"The Collective Bargaining Agreement requires selected players to play in the All-Star game unless they’re injured or have another reason the commissioner deems acceptable." pic.twitter.com/LnJeJCII7i
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) March 2, 2021
Butler, 31, is not a part of the group selected to represent the Eastern Conference in this year’s game.
The NBA had to find a replacement for injured Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, but it selected Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis.
According to Ethan Skolnick of the “Five on the Floor” podcast, Butler told the NBA he wouldn’t play in the All-Star Game for one specific reason.
“For those who were sort of questioning why Jimmy wasn’t named to the All-Star team when Durant went out and it was Sabonis, I can tell you that the NBA wanted to name him to the All-Star team,” Skolnick said.
He made it clear that the whole thing revolved around Bam Adebayo not being invited.
“He wasn’t going unless Bam was going,” he revealed.
Whether Butler was actually invited or not seems to be unclear, but he will not be participating in this year’s game unless another spot opens up due to injury and he is selected.
This season, Butler is averaging 20.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in 21 games.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login