Anti-LeBron, Referee Billboards Go Up In Utah After Jazz All-Star Slander

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Multiple billboards went up around the state of Utah after the Jazz received some “slander” before the All-Star Game.

In reaction to comments made about NBA officials calling Utah’s game and the way the All-Star Game Draft played out, a variety of billboards popped up around the state in defense of the Jazz.

Photos of the billboards were shared on Reddit by u/natespancakes.

One billboard read, “RECALL THE REFEREES!”

Presumably in reference to the Jazz owning the NBA’s best record, another stated, “…and the last shall be first.”

One billboard advocated that Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, who is coaching in the All-Star Game, bench Lebron James and start Rudy Gobert.

Bench Lebron, start Gobert…and other billboards up in Utah at the moment from r/UtahJazz

The pro-Jazz billboards appeared in Davis and Utah County, according to Redditors.

Mitchell and Gobert fined for comments about NBA officials

During the final minutes of Utah’s final game before the All-Star break, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was ejected from the contest after expressing his frustration on how the game was being called by the referees. After the game, Mitchell, Gobert, Snyder, and Mike Conley voiced their concerns about the officiating.

Mitchell implied and Gobert spoke his opinion that the Jazz were being held to a different standard in games because Utah is a small market NBA team.

Two days later, Mitchell and Gobert were both fined for their comments.

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were fined for their comments about NBA officials after the @Utahjazz loss to the 76ers on Wednesday.

💵💵💵#TakeNote https://t.co/c6q2PBlUbG

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 5, 2021

All-Star Slander

The day after the game, Mitchell and Gobert were two of the players up for selection by LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the NBA All-Star Game Draft.

🚨 NEW 🏀 SHIRT 👊 ALERT 🚨

“There’s no slander” *proceeds to immediately slander*

Can’t slander being #1 in The League. #WearTheMoment

Available now: https://t.co/T1WPq6sMyV pic.twitter.com/S5FHxaq744

— BreakingT (@BreakingT) March 5, 2021

Out of the two dozen All-Stars, Mitchell was taken second to last by Durant.

With no other player to chose, Gobert was select to play for Team LeBron.

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were picked last in #NBAAllStar Draft.

LeBron James said the picks weren't slander against the Jazz, "We never played with Utah."#TakeNote https://t.co/AcbXWFMogH

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 5, 2021

When asked why the two All-Stars that play for the team with the league’s best record were the final players drafted, James said that it was because he and Durant didn’t grow up choosing to play as the Jazz in basketball video games.

TNT’s Charles Barkley commented, “I’m not going for this Utah Jazz slander.”

"I'm not going for this Utah Jazz slander." 

Chuck weighs in on the #NBAAllStar Draft. pic.twitter.com/POmcLFy4R7

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 5, 2021

2021 NBA All-Star Game

On Friday, March 5, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that Conley would replaced injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the All-Star Game.

After 14 seasons, it’s Conley’s first-ever All-Star selection. The Jazzman will also compete in the Three-Point Contest.

Snyder, along with Mitchell, Gobert, and Conley, will participate in the All-Star Game on Sunday, March 7 at 6 p.m. (MDT). The events will broadcast on TNT.