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Utah Jazz: Could the Jazz have two All-Stars next season?

By John Keeffer

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 3: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 3: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 3: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – MARCH 3: Rudy Gobert #27 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

If the Utah Jazz are able to become a contender in the Western Conference, they could wind up with two players at the All-Star game for the first time in years.

As a small market team, it is typically a struggle for the Utah Jazz to just get one player in the All-Star game. That’s especially true in the more competitive Western Conference.

Just look at a player like Paul Millsap, who had some absolutely fantastic seasons with the Utah Jazz, but was always on the outside looking in when the official team rosters were announced. As soon as he went east though? Four straight All-Star appearances.

Historically, for a member of the Utah Jazz to make the All-Star team, it is in large part because of the team success. When Gordon Hayward made the team in 2016, the Jazz were the fourth best team in the West. Back when Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur got the nod, the Jazz were again a consistent top-four team in the conference, and number one in their division.

The last time a Jazz player made the All-Star team when that was not the case was back when Andrei Kirilenko made the team during the 2003-04 season. That year, the Jazz went 42-40, and finished outside of the playoff picture.

So if the only way that Utah Jazz players can typically make the All-Star game is based on team success, could this next year be the first time since the 2006-07 season that we have two players representing the Jazz at All-Star weekend?

Last year, the Jazz were the only Western Conference playoff team that did not have a player in the All-Star game. Granted, when the voting was finalized, the Jazz weren’t quite above .500 yet. This year, though, all indications are that they will hit the ground running, and outside of the Golden State Warriors, could push to be the number two team in the West.

If the Jazz do have the second best record in the conference through the first half of the season, I would predict that the Jazz could get two players into the All-Star game: Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell.

Let’s break down the case for each of the two potential All-Stars.

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