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

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 Donovan Mitchell Slam Dunk
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz talks to the media after winning the dunk contest 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)

Dunk Contest — Donovan Mitchell

The highlight of last year’s All-Star Weekend for Jazz fans was far and above the Dunk Contest in which Donovan Mitchell took home the prize in exhilarating fashion. He likely could have competed again this year, but opted not to do so.

That’s perfectly understandable, and as I mentioned, it will still be fun to hear him giving his play-by-play of the event alongside the TNT announcing crew. That said, seeing the high-flying Spida back in action would have likely once again been the best part of All-Star Weekend for Jazz fans. The fact that he won’t be throwing down jams with the best of them yet again is somewhat disappointing.

In an ideal 2019 All-Star Weekend, he would have been there to defend his crown and dazzle us with his athleticism once again. Unfortunately, we’ll have to settle instead for his analysis while watching a different, albeit still entertaining, group of dunkers hit the floor.