Jimmy Butler heard the complaints about him taking up a roster spot in the All-Star Game despite not wanting to play in the actual game, and he has issued a response.
Butler is challenging Lou Williams and anyone else who has an issue with him opting not to play in the game to play him 1-on-1 for $100,000.
ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth reported about Butler’s challenge prior to Friday night’s game between the Houston Rockets and Butler’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wow.@CassidyHubbarth reporting Jimmy Butler will play Lou Williams 1-on-1 for $100k if he wants to put his money where his mouth is re: that tweet from the all-star game
NEED THIS pic.twitter.com/Rw2S9hS026
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) February 24, 2018
The $100,000 figure comes from the bonus amount each player on the winning All-Star team received as a cash prize incentive to make the game more competitive.
Williams, who has averaged over 23 points per game this season for the Clippers, appeared to call out Butler for declining to play minutes in the All-Star Game. Butler justified his decision by saying he wanted to rest rather than play.
Jimmy on why he didn't play: "Just rest, man. I got to rest my body. I know that this Timberwolves season is very, very important to me and I've got to make sure I'm ready to go when I get back there."
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) February 19, 2018
