Utah Jazz: Ranking the team’s best-ever All-Star Weekend moments
By Ryan Aston
7) Pete Maravich is the first-ever Jazz All-Star; February 13 1977
While the New Orleans Jazz tried to emulate the Los Angeles Lakers in the franchise’s early years — hiring Elgin Baylor as head coach, acquiring the likes of Gail Goodrich and bringing in “Hot Rod” Hundley to call the action (all L.A. staples) — their results definitely weren’t Laker-like.
Unless you’re talking about the Lakers of today, i.e a hapless band of misfits led by one of the game’s all-time greats. In that regard, they were spot-on.
Over the course of their first three years, the Jazz never won more than 38 games in a season. They wouldn’t hit 40 or make the playoffs until the move to Salt Lake City. Nevertheless, the sensational play of “Pistol” Pete Maravich was the very essence of showtime.
In 1977, he became the first Jazz All-Star, scoring 10 points to go along with four assists and four steals for the Eastern Conference. In the end, the West won 125-124, but it was a major moment for the Jazz regardless.