Top 10 Utah Jazz Moments From NBA All-Star Weekend
Feb 13, 2020, 6:24 PM | Updated: Feb 15, 2020, 11:51 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Throughout the years, the Utah Jazz have been represented from the Slam Dunk Contest to the NBA All-Star Game during the NBA All-Star weekend.
This season, Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were selected as NBA All-Stars for the first time in their careers.
In celebration of Gobert and Mitchell’s all-star nods, the KSLSports.com team looked back at the best moments from the Utah Jazz during NBA All-Star Weekend.
10. Deron Williams Wins 2008 Skills Challenge
Former Jazz point guard Deron Williams recorded a record-breaking performance during the 2008 NBA Skills Challenge.
The competition began in 2003 and tests players’ passing, ball-handling, and shooting ability. During the challenge, players race against each other dribbling through obstacles, passing through hoops, and laying the ball into the basket.
In 2008, Williams set a record for the fastest time to complete the course by finishing 25.5 seconds. Williams’ mark still stands in 2020.
9. Karl Malone Posts Double-Double In First All-Star Game
Former Jazz and hall of fame forward Karl Malone received his first NBA All-Star selection in 1988. The Mailman scored 22 points on 9-19 shooting to lead the Western Conference team in a 138-133 loss to the East. Malone finished the game with 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
8. Adrian Dantley Scores 23 Points in 1980 All-Star Game
Former Jazzman Adrian Dantley represented Utah in the 1980 NBA All-Star Game. Dantley finished the game with 23 points on 8-15 shooting. He led the Western Conference team in scoring in a 144-136 loss to the Eastern Conference team. Dantley added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
7. Jeremy Evans Wins 2012 Slam Dunk Contest
Former Utah forward Jeremy Evans participated in and won the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. One of Evans’ dunks including slamming two basketballs through the hoop, one after another with each hand.
Evans fell short of defending his title and finished as runner-up in the 2013 Dunk Contest. He was the first Jazzman to win the contest.
6. Jeff Hornacek Wins Back-To-Back Three-Point Contests
Former Jazz sharpshooter Jeff Hornacek won back-to-back NBA three-point contests in the 1998 and 2000 NBA All-Star weekends. The NBA did not hold a three-point contest during the 1998-99 season due a lockout.
Hornacek finished with a score of 16 in 1998 and 13 in 2000. He is the only Jazzman to win the contest.
5. Donovan Mitchell Wins 2018 Slam Dunk Contest
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell competed in the Slam Dunk competition during his rookie season in 2017-18.
Mitchell’s dunk routine included a slam dunk where he bounced the ball off of one backboard while jumping into the air, catching the ball, and dunking it into another hoop.
The guard joined Jeremy Evans as the only Utah players to win the contest.
4. 1984 NBA All-Star Game Representatives
The Utah Jazz had multiple representatives participate in the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. For the first time in franchise history, the Jazz had two all-star selections in Adrian Dantley and Rickey Green. Jazz head coach Frank Layden was selected as the head coach for the Western Conference team.
Dantley finished the game with 2 points on 1-8 field goals. Green scored 6 points on 3-8 shooting off the bench. The West suffered a 154-145 loss to the East.
Former Jazzman Darrell Griffith participated in the first NBA dunk contest and lost in the semifinals.
3. Three NBA All-Stars In 1989
In 1989, the Utah Jazz had three NBA All-Star selections in Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Mark Eaton. It is the only time in franchise history that the Jazz have had three all-stars in the same season.
Malone led the West with 28 points in a 143-134 win over the East.
Stockton scored 11 points and dished out 17 assists.
Eaton posted 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.
2. Karl Malone Named 1989 NBA All-Star Game MVP
Jazz legend Karl Malone led the Western Conference to a 143-134 victory over the Eastern Conference in the 1989 NBA All-Star Game.
Malone finished the game with 28 points on 12-17 field goals. He added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals on the way to his first NBA All-Star Game MVP award.
1. Karl Malone & John Stockton Named Co-MVPs After 1993 NBA All-Star Game In Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City hosted the NBA All-Star Game for the first and only time on February 21, 1993.
Jazzmen Karl Malone and John Stockton led the Western Conference to a 135-132 overtime victory over the Eastern Conference at the Delta Center.
Malone finished the game with 28 points on 11-17 shooting. He added 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
Stockton scored 9 points on 3-6 field goals. He added 15 assists and 2 steals in the win.
Salt Lake City was awarded the 2023 NBA All-Star Game on October 23, 2019.
Honorable Mentions
- John Stockton posts double-double in 1994 NBA All-Star Game
- Deron Williams scored 14 points during his first NBA All-Star Game in 2010
- Carlos Boozer scores 14 points in 2008 NBA All-Star Game
- Jeremy Evans is runner-up in 2013 Slam Dunk Contest
- “Pistol” Pete Maravich becomes first Utah Jazz played recognized as an NBA All-Star in 1977
- Rising Stars Challenge participants throughout the years (Paul Millsap, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell)