Jimmy Butler To Bypass Participation In Tokyo Olympics

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler will not be joining Team USA in the Olympics this summer, according to the Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman. Butler had been on a list of players invited by USA basketball but with the next stage of pre-Olympic testing on the horizon, he decided to opt-out.

Jimmy Butler has opted to bypass participation in Tokyo Olympics, Sun Sentinel has learned. Butler had been on list of initial players invited by USA Basketball. Decision required as next stage of pre-Olympic testing beginning.

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) June 16, 2021

This news is in light of Damian Lillard and Draymond Green being the initial commitments to Team USA. Training camp is set to begin on July 6th, as the Olympics are slated to start on July 23rd.

Other notable stars that have opted out of the Tokyo Olympics include the Lakers' tandem of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Both players are nursing injuries and have their focus set on next season. This year's MVP, Nikola Jokic, has also decided to withdraw from Serbia's national team, lamenting that the past two seasons have been grueling on his body.

Butler was recently named to this year's All-NBA Third Team. He averaged 21.5 points, 7.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds; he led the league in steals, with 2.1 per game, and was named to the NBA's Second Team All-Defense. The 31-year-old's season came to an end in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, as the Heat were swept by the Bucks.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports