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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Royce O'Neale Utah Jazz Purple Throwback
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – NOVEMBER 26: Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz runs up the court in the second half of a NBA game against the Indiana Pacers at Vivint Smart Home Arena on November 26, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Rising Stars Challenge — Royce O’Neale

The Rising Stars Challenge was obviously the event in which the Jazz were best represented as Donovan Mitchell suited up and played quite well, boasting a near double-double (he was just one assist shy) and shooting the ball efficiently.

But one thing that would have made it even better and more interesting for Jazz fans is if he could have been paired alongside his teammate Royce O’Neale. Although O’Neale is older than your typical ‘rising star’ at 25 years old, he’s still in just his second season in the NBA, so it would have been fun to see what he could do.

O’Neale’s numbers aren’t jumping off the page by any means, and there was some phenomenal young talent in the Rising Stars Challenge, meaning expecting him to participate is quite a stretch. Still, he’s been red hot of late, knocking down over 60 percent of his 3-point attempts in the month of February and he’s one of the best (though overlooked) young defenders in the game. By those merits alone, you can see why he’d be an intriguing consideration.

Plus besides, there’s no other Jazzman besides Mitchell (who was indeed in the event) that comes close to meriting consideration. Grayson Allen, anyone? I don’t think so. So while it’s a stretch, a perfect Utah Jazz All-Star Weekend would have given an extended look at what O’Neale could do alongside other up-and-coming talents.

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