Jimmy Butler seemed to be back in the swing of things after a knee injury that saw him miss a significant amount of time. After returning from the injury for one strong game, the Chicago Bulls’s shooting guard experienced swelling in his knee causing him to miss the team’s next game.
Butler’s setback seems to be at least somewhat serious as he is set to miss the Bulls’ next game against the Spurs on Thursday. In addition to missing the game, Butler will be seeking a consultation with noted sports physician Dr. James Andrews.
The following from ESPN’s Nick Friedell:
Jimmy Butler will travel to Alabama to meet with Dr. James Andrews on Thursday morning to get a second opinion on his injured left knee. Butler has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
“Jimmy, he felt pretty good this morning,” coach Fred Hoiberg said after practice on Wednesday. “Came in [Tuesday] night, got a workout, participated this morning. He’s going to go down and see Dr. Andrews down in Alabama today just to get a second opinion on the knee. [Thursday] he won’t play, but we’ll hopefully get some news tomorrow and then confer with everybody and put a plan together. … I think everybody agrees that it’s a good idea to go down there and get an opinion from one of the top doctors in the world.”
That Butler and the Bulls feel the need for a second opinion is somewhat disconcerting. The shooting guard seems to have suffered from a potentially significant setback. Not only is this scary for Butler himself and his health going forward, but it also comes at a crucial time in the season.
The Bulls are desperately holding on to a playoff berth and they have struggled without Butler despite the best efforts of Pau Gasol. Even if Chicago holds on and makes it into the playoffs, it is difficult to imagine them doing much without their star.
Most important, however, is Butler’s long term health. The Bulls are counting on him as the team’s superstar for years to come. If he is indeed significantly injured, they need to take every precaution possible to ensure he is healthy going forward. Seeking out a second opinion is the first step for that.
UPDATE:
Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that Dr. James Andrews has found no issues with Jimmy Butler’s knee.
Jimmy Butler's visit with Dr. James Andrews revealed "no issues" in left knee, league source says. Sigh of relief for Bulls fans.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) March 10, 2016
