NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Snub Jimmy Butler Injury; Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah Force SF in Court

Dec 02, 2015 01:25 PM EST

The Chicago Bulls have exhibited an erratic performance this NBA season. The Derrick Rose squad had moments of brilliance when every member of the team pulls together to snag a win, but they also sometimes showed doubts and discomfort in the hardwood court. In fact, their unpredictable performance could be seen in the current standing at 10-5.

However, there remains one man who could be described as a consistent force behind the Chicago Bulls. Jimmy Butler, who rose to fame following Rose's injury last season, took over the NBA team and almost made it to the finals. With a ferocious determination, Butler was seen battling it out with Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in an attempt to bag the spot that would have seen the Chicago Bulls face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals. Although Rose is back and once again taking control of the NBA team, Butler is still considered a formidable force behind the basketball squad.

Hence, fans and followers of the Chicago Bulls began to worry when news broke that Butler is injured. The supporters of this NBA team are no longer strangers to injuries cutting off their season short. Rose has been reported to be still suffering from double visions due to the face surgery he underwent before the regular season. Kirk Hinrich is nursing a leg injury while Mike Dunleavy's back cannot seem to stop causing trouble. Needless to say, the sore heel of Butler took the wind out of the sails of the Chicago Bulls fans.

Surprisingly, though, Butler appears unfazed by this injury. In fact, the young star insisted on playing despite his sore heel. Although this may be worrisome for some medical experts, the decision seems not to be affecting Butler at all.

"Play through it," said Butler, referring to his injury, according to CBS Chicago. He went on to say, "I don't think anybody cares that I'm injured. Nobody feels sorry for me. So I got to play." The feisty NBA star further shared, "My decision is my decision."

Even Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, albeit a bit anxious, said that the decision to play rests on Butler's shoulders. He said, "The big thing is he's [Butler] comfortable with it. He has a bruise on his heel. But there's nothing structurally wrong with it. Jimmy is a warrior. He's going to play through the pain."

Meanwhile, Rose, who had been notably absent in some games this season and in the previous NBA year, dismissed the team's current standing. He said via ESPN, "Who wants to be great right now early in the season? If you are, that's good, but right now we're trying to get used to one another, get used to the lineups when we're out there. We're still missing [Brooks], still missing Kirk [Hinrich]. We're missing some players, but we're getting used to each other. It's just going to take a little more time."