Timberwolves guard Jimmy Butler is not here for the All-Star Game.

Butler was named an All-Star reserve along with his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns and is slated to play on Team Stephen Curry. But if Butler had things his way, he wouldn't participate in the game at all, per John Meyer of Canis Hoopus.

https://twitter.com/thedailywolf/status/962917823268970496

For most of the NBA players, the All-Star break is just that — a break. They relax, eat what they want, go on vacation like Taj Gibson, or do whatever else their heart desires. But playing in an exhibition basketball game — or doing anything basketball-related for that matter — is the furthest thing from their minds.

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But players like Butler do not have the luxury. He's a star that people want to see play with all the other stars in this weekend that is meant as one big fan appreciation event. And let's face it: there would be no NBA without the fans.

The idea of an All-Star weekend is a bit problematic, however, especially in this day and age. Teams and players care so much about their health that they ritually engage in injury prevention, even going so far as resting healthy players.

Doing all these All-Star activities, some would say, is actually a necessary injury risk to the players participating in them. But at the same time, most players feel honored to be chosen as an All-Star and would love nothing more than to give back to the fans.

Other industries give its full-time employees paid time off, where they can just leave for one or two weeks and not have to think about work at all. The NBA does not have that, and Butler's argument is maybe it should.