Coach Tom Thibodeau has announced that swingman Jimmy Butler is out two to four weeks with a thumb injury, meaning he will miss the season opener against the New York Knicks, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
Butler hurt his thumb on October 19 and missed Chicago’s final two games of the preseason. However, despite the two to four weeks being the said timetable, Butler’s return could come earlier. Butler, for one, is hoping to play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.
“No one knows, that’s the thing,” said coach Thibodeau of Butler’s timetable. “Two to four [weeks], one to three, I don’t know what it is. He’s not comfortable going yet, so when he is, he will. We know that he wants to be out there, and injuries are a part of the game. Just deal with it.”
In Butler’s absence, Kirk Hinrich is expected to get the start in the backcourt with Derrick Rose. Also, Tony Snell is expected to see an increase in minutes.
Butler, 25, has been Chicago’s best perimeter defender and averaged career-highs last season with 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.