The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Imagining a dream All-Star weekend for Jazz fans

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks over Kevin Hart and crew during the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night as part of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 17, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks over Kevin Hart and crew during the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night as part of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 17, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz John Stockton NBA All-Star
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – FEBRUARY 21: John Stockton #12 of the Western Conference All-Stars drives against Isiah Thomas #11 of the Eastern Conference All-Stars during the 1993 All-Star Game on February 21, 1993 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The West defeated the Eats 135-132 in OT. Copyright 1993 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

All-Star Celebrity Game — John Stockton

One of my least favorite events of All-Star Weekend is without a doubt the All-Star Celebrity Game. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I tuned in. Perhaps part of the problem is, as out of touch with pop culture as I am, I just have no clue who almost anybody is on either team. Like, is there really a famous person who goes by the name Bad Bunny? But I digress…

But some of the most exciting competitors to see hit the floor in the All-Star Celebrity Game are former players, such as Ray Allen who suited up for this year’s event. Along that vein, in order for the game to really be of interest to Jazz fans, it would be awesome to see scrappy point guard John Stockton hit the floor.

The all-time assist leader has aged significantly since his glory days, but I have a feeling he could still ball, defend, and assist it up with the best of them, especially in the lackluster competition of the Celebrity All-Star Game. Maybe he’d even bust out the classic short shorts for old time’s sake to really perfect the process of embarrassing the other participants.

Back in 2014, Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone participated in the Shooting Stars event, an All-Star shooting competition that featured a current player, a retired NBA player and a WNBA player. As such, it’s plausible that his former partner-in-crime Stockton could receive an invite to be involved with the festivities as well. On a side note, I wish they hadn’t gotten rid of the Shooting Stars contest, I always liked that one!

My hunch on this, though, is that I can’t ever see a hard-nosed guy like Stockton wanting anything to do with the shenanigans of the Celebrity Game. A guy who played the game the absolute right way and never stopped competing would probably be an odd fit for a contest that’s little more than a spectacle of (supposed) fun and entertainment.

Still, for Jazz fans to enjoy every bit of All-Star Weekend, it’s fun to imagine what the 56-year-old Stockton would do in that contest if given the chance.

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