Butler: Being voted All-Star starter would mean 'absolutely nothing'
Being voted an NBA All-Star starter is usually received with happiness and joy by most lucky enough to be put in that position - but Jimmy Butler is no normal guy.
According to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson, Butler - who is enjoying his best season since entering the league in 2011 - says that if he were to be voted into this year's NBA All-Star game as a starter, it would mean "absolutely nothing" to him.
Butler has been named an Eastern Conference All-Star for the past two seasons, and will likely be heading to his third straight appearance this season, whether he likes it or not. Even if he doesn't receive a starter's jersey, he seems destined to at least be selected by the coaches for a reserve role.
After the second returns to this year's voting, among frontcourt players, Butler currently sits in fifth place with 400,448 fan votes, roughly 60,000 behind 76ers center - and rookie - Joel Embiid (457,300 votes). If he were to be voted in, the Marquette alum would need to fall in the top three, which is currently occupied by LeBron James (1,066,147 votes), Giannis Antetokounmpo (963,110 votes), and Kevin Love (473,328 votes).
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The Chicago Bulls forward currently ranks second in the league in real plus/minus, and third in win shares. He's posting career highs in scoring and rebounds this season, averaging 25 points and 6.8 boards, to go along with 4.6 assists and 1.8 steals.