Jimmy Butler Injury: Updates on Bulls Star's Shoulder and Return
Chicago Bulls star Jimmy Butler left the floor during Tuesday's game against the Sacramento Kings with a shoulder strain. He played in the All-Star Game and has been in the Bulls' lineup since.
Continue for updates.
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Butler Plays in All-Star Game
Sunday, Feb. 15
As ESPN's Nick Friedell reported, Butler would miss the All-Star Skills Challenge on Saturday. He played in the All-Star game Sunday, as noted by Friedell.
Butler Injures Shoulder
Tuesday, Feb. 10
The Bulls confirmed it's Butler's right shoulder and that he would not return.
After the game, head coach Tom Thibodeau provided an update, via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
Butler has played huge minutes and been a key cog for the Bulls, rising to prominence this season as the team's leading scorer and displaying an evolving, well-balanced game.
At the rate Butler is improving in his fourth year as a pro, Chicago will have a hard time retaining him as part of its hopeful championship nucleus.
With the versatility to defend multiple perimeter positions and an increasing offensive arsenal, Butler is not easily replaceable in the Bulls rotation. Thibodeau is known for his defensive savvy, though, so Chicago should be fine on that end of the court.
It will be up to Tony Snell to step into the starting lineup and play at a high level, while former NBA MVP Derrick Rose must pick up the scoring slack until Butler returns.
