Utah Jazz: Ranking the team’s best-ever All-Star Weekend moments

CLEVELAND - FEBRUARY 9: Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game played on February 9, 1997 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - FEBRUARY 9: Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game played on February 9, 1997 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 10
Next

3) Jazzmen pace the West to a win, Malone is MVP; February 12, 1989

If 1984 was the year the Jazz pulled themselves out of the league’s basement with their first playoff appearance, ’88 was the year they officially became a force in the Western Conference. So when the February classic rolled around the following year, Utah was recognized with three All-Star selections.

Karl Malone, John Stockton and Mark Eaton all donned the West jerseys that year, and would go on to lead the team to a 143-134 win over the East. The big win came despite a 28-point night from MJ.

Stockton notched 11 points and 17 assists (many of which went to Malone) in the game, while Eaton blocked a couple of shots in limited action. But it was the Mailman who shined brightest, scoring 28 points, grabbing nine rebounds and collecting his first All-Star MVP trophy.

It was a huge accomplishment for the future Hall of Famer. Also — Eaton’s selection as a shot-blocking big man gives one hope that Rudy Gobert will one day get his own All-Star nod.