Jimmy Butler Illness: Updates on Bulls Star's Status and Return
Chicago Bulls budding star Jimmy Butler did not play in Tuesday night's game against the Golden State Warriors due to an illness. He returned against the Lakers on Thursday night.
Continue for updates.
Butler Returns vs. Lakers
Thursday, Jan. 29
The Lakers revealed Butler was in the Bulls' starting lineup on Thursday.
Butler Battles Illness
Tuesday, Jan. 27
ESPN's Nick Friedell reported that Butler would miss Tuesday's game:
The fourth-year pro out of Memphis has improved every season, but the 2014-15 campaign has seen Butler explode, emerging as the legitimate offensive weapon Chicago needs.
Butler is averaging just over 20 points per game, proving to be well worth the No. 30 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. In addition to his sudden scoring surge, Butler is an exceptional defender, making him an invaluable part of coach Tom Thibodeau's rotation.
Injuries have plagued the Bulls in recent years, preventing them from perhaps winning their first Larry O'Brien Trophy since the Michael Jordan era. Past MVP point guard Derrick Rose has been missing with regularity, while big men Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah have been dinged up, too.
It would be discouraging to see Butler take on a similar course, considering Chicago has counted on him for big minutes over the past two years in particular.
If Butler is out for a while, Thibodeau will be tasked to juggle personnel once more, with Tony Snell in particular likely seeing a bigger role.
