Utah Jazz All-Star Game #2: 1988-89
Having one All-Star in the game’s premier exhibition is fun. By that logic, having two is twice as much!
While Karl Malone had been the team’s lone representative the year before, he was joined by teammate John Stockton in 1988-89. That was a trend that would hold for a long, long time.
As you might expect, both men delivered masterful performances in this game. Stockton finished with a characteristic 11 points and 17 assists, but Malone stole the show. He finished 28 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and the game’s MVP trophy.
As a bonus, the Western Conference team won by a final score of 143-134. Most people aren’t concerned with who won an All-Star game, but if we had to place bets, we’d bet that Karl Malone and John Stockton are not most people.
Utah Jazz All-Star Game #1: 1992-93
Having one All-Star win MVP in the game’s premier exhibition is fun.
You know where this is going.
Stockton and Malone took home co-MVP trophies for their joint performance in this contest. Stockton finished with 9 points and 15 assists, while Malone chipped in 28 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks.
The league’s new captain vs captain format is fun, but the old conference vs conference format ensured that teammates stayed together more often. Watching two players with preexisting chemistry work together in a game otherwise light on it was enjoyable in its own right. Stockton and Malone exploited that dynamic en route to a 135-132 victory.
On the eve of this season’s All-Star game, Utah Jazz fans should be excited. With any luck, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert will work their way into next year’s iteration of this list.