Jimmy Butler and Steve Kerr Provide Valuable Perspective With Their Absence

The world of sports is no stranger to a dramatic figure of speech. Players are referred to as troops; games are showdowns or battles. And when there are high stakes at hand, we talk about things (whether it's a game, a series or even a single possession) as being "life and death."

But it goes without saying that those terms are a bit excessive. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that sports are all consuming, but that isn't the case. Without minimizing the employment of players, coaches and everyone involved with the leagues, there are larger things lurking outside of the arena.

And within the NBA, two of the sport's bigger names, Jimmy Butler and Steve Kerr, have provided a tangible reminder of that reality.

Why Isn't Jimmy Butler Playing?

While the Miami Heat's success can be tied to organizational culture, having talented players is still important. And, these days, Butler is the club's top dog.

From afar, you might think that status would make him essential; when you lead the team in points (21.4 per game) and pitch in with a respectable amount of rebounds, assists and steals, then you can't miss any action. Right?

Wrong.

The forward missed Sunday's meeting with the Boston Celtics, and he's listed as "out" for Tuesday's big-time date with the Milwaukee Bucks. And while that absence would normally suggest a nagging injury, Butler is inactive due to a personal matter.

"Jimmy Butler has been granted a leave of absence as he deals with the death of a family member. Jimmy and his family ask for privacy at this point in time as they navigate this loss," a statement from Butler's agent, which was shared through the Heat's X (formerly Twitter) account, explained. "Updates will be given when appropriate."

Steve Kerr Also Missed a Game for Personal Reasons

Butler's absence doesn't come in isolation, though. On Monday night, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was notably absent.

"Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson will serve as the team's acting head coach tonight at Utah, in place of Steve Kerr, who will be attending [Golden State assistant coach] Dejan Milojević's memorial service in Serbia with other members of the organization," the club explained in a tweet.

And while Golden State ended up winning that contest comfortably, Kerr's choice to travel abroad sends the message that honoring his peer's life is more important than the result of a single basketball contest.

It's also worth noting that the NBA canceled two Warriors games in the immediate wake of Milojević's sudden death.

Some Things Are Bigger Than Sports

Upon first blush, Butler and Kerr's respective absences don't seem notable. Both men experienced a loss, and they took time in light of that event. But given the context of professional sports, it's worth highlighting the message that their choices send.

As noted at the top of this piece, it's easy to hold athletes to a different standard. While no one will bat an eye if a quote-unquote ordinary person makes a mistake at work, things work differently when you're in the public eye. If someone like Butler or Kerr cost their team a game, they're pilloried for it. They didn't just make a mistake; they blew a life-and-death situation.

And while you could argue that scrutiny is the price to pay for incredible fame and fortune, the standards stretch beyond that. Consider how, in the world of football, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was questioned for having the audacity to go apple-picking during a bye week. Elsewhere in the NFL, consider the questions Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce faced regarding potential distractions because Taylor Swift was simply in the stands.

Sports are an emotional prospect, and it makes sense that fans feel an ownership over what happens during the season. That ownership, however, doesn't extend to human beings, especially those who are strangers.

Kerr and Butler are clear reminders of that. Not only are they absent for personal reasons, but they're visibly absent. The former is one of the current game's top coaches, and the latter is a star player missing some important games for Eastern Conference standings.

And while noticing that might feel a bit weird—what if one game is the difference between a playoff berth and spending the postseason at home?—things can be boiled down to a simple principle.

Whether it's during the season or not, professional athletes are people too.