Jimmy Butler Accepts Invitation to Play in Olympics: Report

Butler, who averaged a career high 20.9 points and 4.8 assists per game during the 2015-16 season, will make his first appearance for Team USA on the international stage

The list of players that will not be participating in the Rio Olympics seems to grow larger by the day, but according to at least one report, a Chicago Bulls star will represent Team USA at the competition.

That player is Jimmy Butler, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. Butler will be joined by Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Draymond Green, Kyle Lowry, and DeMarcus Cousins, according to the report.

Butler, who averaged a career high 20.9 points and 4.8 assists per game during the 2015-16 season, will make his first appearance for Team USA on the international stage as he looks to help the team bring home yet another gold medal.

The American side has won five of the last six gold medals, including in the last two Olympics in Beijing and London.

The last time a Bulls player made an appearance in the Olympics for Team USA was all the way back in 1996, when Scottie Pippen was part of the second group of NBA players to participate in the Games.

Pippen was also on the “Dream Team” in 1992, when a group led by Michael Jordan captured a gold medal in Barcelona. 

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