January 28, 2016 - The NBA announced earlier tonight that Jimmy Butler has been selected a reserve for the Eastern Conference in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. For Butler, it marks the second consecutive season that he has been named an All-Star. His selection was determined by Eastern Conference head coaches.
In 44 games this season, the 26-year old Butler is averaging a career-high 22.3 ppg (fourth in the East; 11th in the NBA), 5.3 rpg, a career-best 4.2 apg, 1.68 spg (ninth; 17th) and 0.70 bpg in 38.3 mpg (first in the NBA). Butler joins Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook as the only players in the NBA who are presently averaging at least 22.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 1.50 spg. He also is shooting career bests from the field, .455, and from the line, .835.
Now in his fifth season, Butler was originally selected by Chicago with the last pick (30th overall) of the first round in the 2011 NBA Draft. He currently leads the Bulls in scoring, steals, field goals made, field goals attempted, free throws made (third in the NBA with 288 FTM), free throws attempted (sixth in the NBA with 345 FTA) and minutes played. He has led the Bulls in scoring 23 times and in assists 14 times. He has also posted 25 games with 20 or more points, including seven games with 30 or more points scored, two games with 40-plus points and one game with a career-high 53 points.
Butler’s selection marks the seventh straight season that the Bulls have had a player named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. NBA All-Star 2016, the 65th NBA All-Star Game, will be played in Toronto at Air Canada Centre on Sunday, Feb. 14 (7:30 p.m., CT) and will be televised on TNT.