Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler week-to-week after MRI confirms turf toe
Jimmy Butler is potentially sidelined for the rest of November. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls guard-forward Jimmy Butler is listed as week-to-week after an MRI confirmed that the swingman has a sprain to his right toe, often known as "turf toe," according to Bulls.com.
Initials X-rays of the foot and toe came back negative. Because of the injury, Butler will not accompany the team on its six-game road trip, which begins on Thursday with a game in Denver against the Nuggets. The 24-year-old suffered the injury Monday night in a 86-81 win at home against the Charlotte Bobcats.
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Bulls guard Derrick Rose had said immediately following Butler's injury that team will miss him if he's sidelined:
“Jimmy is someone we’re definitely going to miss, especially with his energy and defense. He’s been knocking down shots. But the way our team is, if one guy goes down, the other guy has to step up and do a great job. That’s Mike Dunleavy, Kirk [Hinrich] or myself if I’m playing the two. We’ve just got to fill in for him.”
Rose missed five games with turf toe in 2011-12 and Carlos Boozer played through it during the 2011 playoffs.
Selected No. 30 overall by the Bulls in the 2011 draft, Butler had a breakout season last year. Butler averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds last year, and he was averaging 11.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes this season before the injury.
