Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler reportedly had the opportunity to make his sixth All-Star appearance this year but decided to pass on the opportunity.
According to Ethan Skolnick, host of the Miami Heat-focused podcast Five On The Floor, Butler was offered the spot after Kevin Durant was ruled out of the 2021 All-Star game due to a hamstring injury. But the 31-year-old veteran made it clear to Commissioner Adam Silver that he wouldn’t take the invite as he didn’t want to go without his teammate Bam Adebayo.
Butler and Adebayo played together in last year’s All-Star game but failed to make the cut this year.
Silver then proceeded to name Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis Durant’s official replacement late last week.
It wasn’t a surprise that Jimmy Butler didn’t get the All-Star nod from fans or NBA head coaches this time around. Although he has enjoyed another productive campaign, averaging 20.1 points while posting career-highs in rebounds (7.8) and assists (7.8), Butler also missed 13 games.
Another thing that didn’t work in Butler’s favor are the Heat’s struggles early in the season. Since reaching the NBA Finals in the previous playoffs, Miami has had issues with form and were even at one point out of the playoff spot in Eastern Conference.
