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.