Of the 24 All-Stars on show in Los Angeles on Sunday night, there was just one player who didn't play a single minute; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jimmy Butler.The 28-year-old was representing Team Stephen but he didn't get off the bench and instead sat on the sidelines and watched the whole encounter unfold.This was his fourth All-Star nod but his absence from the floor raised curiosity among those in the arena and the fans watching at home.It appears that Butler wasn't hurt either as he later explained his reasons for not playing to the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda."Just rest, man. I got to rest my body," Butler said. "I know that this Timberwolves season is very, very important to me and I've got to make sure I'm ready to go when I get back there."He earlier relayed to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that he wasn't injured and he'd told Team Stephen coach Mike D'Antoni not to worry about playing him and including him into the rotations.

When you look at the minutes he's logged this year, it doesn't really come as a surprise that he chose to sit out this exhibition game.

He currently leads the league in minutes played at 37.3 per game this year.

One thing that also needs to be taken into account is the fact that Butler is playing for Tom Thibodeau again, who is known for working his players hard.

In five of the seven campaigns he's spent under coach Thibs, he's been the league's leader in minutes played.

With the former Chicago Bulls star playing at an MVP-level this season and the T-Wolves set to end their league-worst 13-year playoff drought, he really can't be blamed for conserving his energy for the stretch run in the second half of the campaign.

One man who was annoyed by Butler's decision not to take part in the All-Star game, however, was Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Lou Williams.

The veteran is having a career year and was unfortunate not to be rewarded with his first appearance.

He hasn't been shy to express his frustrations at missing out and he took to social media to question Butler too.

If the T-Wolves man didn't want to feature, it would've made sense for another deserving player like Williams to take his place and benefit from the opportunity of going up against the league's best.

But a player can only pull out due to injury so, to the obvious annoynce of some, Butler took the decision to enjoy the show from the bench and save his body for the rigours of NBA action.