Erik Spoelstra calls it ‘a joke’ that Jimmy Butler is not an All-Star starter

Jimmy Butler is the leader of a top-four team in the league, and his head coach thinks that should have counted for more in an All-Star context.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said on Friday that it was “a joke” Butler was not voted as a starter for the Eastern Conference in this year’s All-Star Game, per Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.

Starting for the East instead are Boston’s Kemba Walker and Atlanta’s Trae Young in the backcourt along with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Toronto’s Pascal Siakam, and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid in the frontcourt.

Butler, meanwhile, has done a little bit of everything this year for the Heat, averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. The result to this point has been a 31-13 season for Miami, placing them second in the East and in a tie for the third-best record in the league.

Fortunately, Butler is still a virtual lock to make the team as a reserve, and he probably thinks that another Heat player should be selected as well.