Jan. 29--Jimmy Butler is headed back to the All-Star game.
This time, Pau Gasol won't join him.
The coaches' reserve selections were revealed Thursday night on TNT and Butler, as expected, earned his second straight trip to the NBA showcase Feb. 12-14 in Toronto.
"Oh absolutely, no doubt about it," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said when asked if Butler is deserving. "He has been one of the most consistent performers all year. He plays a ton of minutes. He plays both ways."
Butler, who signed a five-year, $92.3 million deal in July, is averaging a career-best 22.3 points along with 5.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He leads the NBA playing 38.3 minutes per game.
The selection continues the astounding ascension for the last pick in the first round of the 2011 draft to a place among the game's elite.
Gasol, 35, missed by 360 votes to earn his second straight Eastern Conference starting berth in fan voting, which produced starters of Dwyane Wade, Kyle Lowry, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.
The East reserves are Butler; DeMar DeRozan, Paul Millsap, Andre Drummond, Chris Bosh, John Wall and Isaiah Thomas.
The Western Conference starters are Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard with Draymond Green, James Harden, Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and LaMarcus Aldridge as reserves.
Gasol, a five-time All-Star, thinks the league's move to fan voting for frontcourt and backcourt starters, which eliminated the center position, is unfair.
"It was too bad that I fell short of the starting lineup," he said. "The way that it is now, it's all point guards, shooting guards and small forwards in the starting lineups. It's kind of unfair for the bigger guys who work hard and play well to not have the same type of shot. It is a game where people want to see those flashy guys."
Gasol is averaging 16.6 points and 10.9 rebounds.
"I've played at a level where I should be recognized," Gasol said.
