UTAH JAZZ
Jordan Clarkson Excited For NBA World To Experience Utah
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson said he was excited for the world to experience Salt Lake City when the NBA All-Star game comes to town in February.
Clarkson is one of the league’s most notable pop-culture icons and figures to play a prominent role as a liaison between the city and the weeklong event.
Having been 30 years since the All-Star game was last in Utah, Clarkson anticipates a strong showing.
“It’s great, I think it’s going to bring more people out,” Clarkson said. “They will be able to see the city, the restaurants, all kinds of things.”
Related: NBA Unveils All-Star Jerseys In Utah
The Jazz and Smith Entertainment Group partnered with Cactus Jack, the record label and brand from multi-platinum hip hop artist Travis Scott, to produce several attractions for All-Star weekend 🔥🔥#TakeNote #NBAAllStar https://t.co/aK9nBqgjuO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2023
Utah has grown considerably since 1993, having nearly doubled in population from 1.8 million to 3.3 million people. The state has hosted two NBA Finals, the 2002 Olympic Games, and has become a destination location for the tech industry.
“I think it’s big for the city just to show that side, and to keep projecting that,” Clarkson added.
On Tuesday, the Jazz announced some of the events that will be going on downtown during All-Star weekend.
That includes a two-day snowboarding event at the Olympic Legacy Plaza at The Gateway, pop-up shopping from brands including Cactus Jack, MRKT, StockX, The Webster Miami, CounterPoint, and Mitchell & Ness, and the Cactus Jack Concert Series that will take place throughout the weekend.
“Ryan announced Travis [Scott] today,” Clarkson said. “I was talking to him about this stuff in the summertime and just hearing the ideas that he has is amazing. Trying to integrate all of that stuff here, it’s awesome showing that side of Salt Lake.”
Related: Travis Scott To Help Finalize Jazz All-Star Plans
Clarkson hasn’t been announced as an official participant in any of the All-Star events but said he will be in town throughout the weekend, and hasn’t turned down any invitations.
“We’ll see,” Clarkson said of potentially participating in the events. “I’m going to be here though. So obviously in Salt Lake, I’m going to do some things — a few events here and there. It’s a lot of things planned for All-Star week, I think Salt Lake is going to put on.”
The @utahjazz broke their huddle after Tuesday's practice with "Walk on three."
Check out what rookie Walker Kessler had to say about being named to the Rising Stars challenge. #TakeNotehttps://t.co/sHn6w5kIKB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 31, 2023
NBA All-Star weekend officially runs from February 17-19. Rookie Walker Kessler will be participating in the Rising Stars Challenge, while Mike Conley said he’d been invited to participate in the Skill Challenge on All-Star Saturday.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.