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.

The post Jimmy Butler Reportedly Rejected the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Invitation appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The news was confirmed on social media by Indiana Pacers, who are nominally considered the hosts alongside the city of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis and Pacers hosted the All-Star Game last time in 1985.

“While we are disappointed that the NBA All-Star Game will not take place in Indianapolis in 2021, we are looking forward to the Pacers and the city hosting the game and surrounding events in 2024,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement issued to media.

Despite canceling the 2021 All-Star weekend, the league is reportedly considering other ways to mark the middle point of the upcoming season.

There are currently no plans to make changes in the All-Star schedule past next year. Cleveland remains the host for 2022, while Salt Lake City will get the honor in 2023.

The post Indianapolis to Host NBA All-Star Game in 2024 Instead of 2021 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 2020 MLB All-Star game was set to take place on July 14th at Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was supposed to be only the second All-Star game hosted by Dodgers and first since 1980.

However, with coronavirus pandemic both delaying and reducing the 2020 season, the league decided it was best not to organize All-Star festivities this year. It remains unclear whether the selection will still take place.

Dodgers will now get to host the 2022 MLB All-Star game, while the 2021 edition is set to take place in Atlanta.

“Once it became clear we were unable to hold this year’s All-Star festivities, we wanted to award the Dodgers with the next available All-Star Game, which is 2022,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. “I want to thank the Dodgers organization and the city of Los Angeles for being collaborative partners in the early stages of All-Star preparation and for being patient and understanding in navigating the uncertainty created by the pandemic.”

So far, 90 All-Star Games have been played since the first game in 1933. American League has the overall lead over National League, with the overall record standing at 45–43–2. AL also has an active seven-game winning streak.

The post MLB All-Star Game Won’t Take Place in 2020 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Lillard’s injury isn’t serious, he still opted to use the All-Star break to recover in order to help Trail Blazers make a playoff push in the remaining part of the season.

“Obviously, that’s something you look forward to,” said Lillard. “Those festivities and having fun, but my health is first.”

Lillard, who supposed to also take part in the 3-point contest, said that he will still be in Chicago to spend some time with his fellow All-Stars.

“Hopefully somebody who should have been there that didn’t make it, but unfortunately I had to be the fall guy,” he added. “But hopefully Devin Booker, someone like that, will get the spot.”

Damian Lillard has been having an exceptional season in 2019/20 despite Portland’s struggles to get to a playoff spot in the West. Lillard has career numbers, averaging 29.7 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for the season so far. The 29-year-old was exceptionally good since the beginning of the year, as he is averaging 38.4 points and 9.4 assists in the last month.

Portland Trail Blazers are currently ninth in the Western Conference, being five games behind Memphis Grizzlies on the eighth and final playoff spot.

The post Damian Lillard Suffers Groin Strain, Won’t Take Part in All-Star Weekend appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

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.

The post Jimmy Butler Reportedly Rejected the 2021 NBA All-Star Game Invitation appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The news was confirmed on social media by Indiana Pacers, who are nominally considered the hosts alongside the city of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis and Pacers hosted the All-Star Game last time in 1985.

“While we are disappointed that the NBA All-Star Game will not take place in Indianapolis in 2021, we are looking forward to the Pacers and the city hosting the game and surrounding events in 2024,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement issued to media.

Despite canceling the 2021 All-Star weekend, the league is reportedly considering other ways to mark the middle point of the upcoming season.

There are currently no plans to make changes in the All-Star schedule past next year. Cleveland remains the host for 2022, while Salt Lake City will get the honor in 2023.

The post Indianapolis to Host NBA All-Star Game in 2024 Instead of 2021 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 2020 MLB All-Star game was set to take place on July 14th at Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was supposed to be only the second All-Star game hosted by Dodgers and first since 1980.

However, with coronavirus pandemic both delaying and reducing the 2020 season, the league decided it was best not to organize All-Star festivities this year. It remains unclear whether the selection will still take place.

Dodgers will now get to host the 2022 MLB All-Star game, while the 2021 edition is set to take place in Atlanta.

“Once it became clear we were unable to hold this year’s All-Star festivities, we wanted to award the Dodgers with the next available All-Star Game, which is 2022,” said MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. “I want to thank the Dodgers organization and the city of Los Angeles for being collaborative partners in the early stages of All-Star preparation and for being patient and understanding in navigating the uncertainty created by the pandemic.”

So far, 90 All-Star Games have been played since the first game in 1933. American League has the overall lead over National League, with the overall record standing at 45–43–2. AL also has an active seven-game winning streak.

The post MLB All-Star Game Won’t Take Place in 2020 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Lillard’s injury isn’t serious, he still opted to use the All-Star break to recover in order to help Trail Blazers make a playoff push in the remaining part of the season.

“Obviously, that’s something you look forward to,” said Lillard. “Those festivities and having fun, but my health is first.”

Lillard, who supposed to also take part in the 3-point contest, said that he will still be in Chicago to spend some time with his fellow All-Stars.

“Hopefully somebody who should have been there that didn’t make it, but unfortunately I had to be the fall guy,” he added. “But hopefully Devin Booker, someone like that, will get the spot.”

Damian Lillard has been having an exceptional season in 2019/20 despite Portland’s struggles to get to a playoff spot in the West. Lillard has career numbers, averaging 29.7 points, 7.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for the season so far. The 29-year-old was exceptionally good since the beginning of the year, as he is averaging 38.4 points and 9.4 assists in the last month.

Portland Trail Blazers are currently ninth in the Western Conference, being five games behind Memphis Grizzlies on the eighth and final playoff spot.

The post Damian Lillard Suffers Groin Strain, Won’t Take Part in All-Star Weekend appeared first on yoursportspot.com.