Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler deserves to be an All-Star

The first returns of the NBA All-Star voting were released earlier this week and Jimmy Butler was just 10th among Western Conference guards.

Excuse me…what!?

I need somebody, anybody at all, to explain to me how Jimmy Butler isn’t near the top of this list. There is no doubt that Butler has played at an All-Star level this season.

To say these results are a shock would be an understatment. With all due respect to Lonzo Ball, Devin Booker and Manu Ginobili, Butler deserves to be ahead of them and then some. Even Damian Lillard probably shouldn’t be ahead of Butler this season.

One more time, in case you missed it:

First and foremost, ask yourself, what exactly is an ‘all-star’. Sure, most of the qualities of an All-Star comes from their numbers — which, by the way, Butler has. But you also need to factor in qualities outside the box score. Which, once again, Butler has provided all season long for the young Timberwolves.

Right away, he was put into a situation where he was asked to become the leader of a team he had yet to play a game with. Now, in January, it is fair to say Butler has met that expectation. He has proved to be the leader of the Wolves both vocally and with his actions. His presence is a huge reason the Wolves are in position to snap their 13-year playoff drought.

He has been the most clutch player on the team as well. Whether it be in the fourth quarter or overtime, he has been the one to deliver the Wolves that extra lift.

His clutch gene has not only been the best on the Wolves, they have been some of the best in the league.

In clutch situations, Butler has averaged 4.2 points, which is seventh in the league. And really, that mark is fourth best in the league with the top three players having played in only one or two games each.

As long as we’re talking numbers, he is 18th in the league scoring at 21.6 points per game on 47 percent shooting. That mark also puts him in the top-10 in the Western Conference. Looking at his past 10 games, Butler is averaging 25.8 points per game, which is 12th in the league over that span.

Also over his past 10 games, Butler has posted a player efficiency rating of 28.9, which is fourth-best in the league over that span. Noticeably, he has been taking more shots in situations where the Wolves are down or need to stop a run. That is another characteristic of an All-Star and a team leader.

The bottom line is, Jimmy Butler should be an All-Star out West. I’m not sure what else he has to do to prove it. He has kept the Wolves up near the top of a conference that contains many of the top players in the league, proving he too is a top player. That is, if you didn’t already think so.

Make sure you do as they ask and vote. Butler needs to be rewarded for everything he has done for the Wolves thus far. Remember, fan voting accounts for 50 percent of votes. The other 50 percent comes from active players and select media.

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Even still, every bit counts. Be sure to vote for Butler as much as possible; he has earned it, after all.