The Utah Jazz will enjoy the All-Star break like every team around the NBA, but may be one of the league’s least represented teams, despite being a near lock for the playoffs.
Donovan Mitchell will be the Jazz lone All-Star weekend representative, participating in Friday night’s Rising Stars challenge. Mitchell will headline team USA in the pairing with the world team. Mitchell will also represent the Jazz Saturday night during the dunk contest, but he’ll be on the TNT broadcast, after declining to defend his dunk contest title.
Mitchell skipping the dunk contest is good for the Jazz, a lot of effort goes into the choreography of the contest, and can be a distraction. Mitchell also has the ability to improve his national status as a prolific voice in the NBA, and use it to help recruit talent to Utah during the summer.
The Jazz not having better representation at the break is likely a mixture of the Jazz slow start to the season, and the fact that several players may have opted against participating, like Mitchell in the dunk contest.
Kyle Korver is a top 20 three point shooter by percentage this season, and has previously competed in the three point shooting contest.
Joe Ingles likely could have been a candidate for the Shooting Stars challenge, but after a miniature online campaign, Ingles announced he’d prefer to go on vacation.
