Jazz Forward Lauri Markkanen Selected to 2023 NBA All-Star Team
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has been selected to participate in the 2023 All-Star game on February 19 in Salt Lake City. This will be Markkanen's (the former No. 7 overall pick) first All-Star appearance after landing in Salt Lake City last summer in the blockbuster Donovan Mitchell trade.
Markkanen has always been a solid role player since being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2017, where he averaged 15.2 ppg as a rookie, but since arriving in Utah, the 7-foot sharpshooter has taken his game to new heights. Markkanen is currently averaging 24.9 ppg while hauling in 8.7 rebounds per contest.
In January, Markkanen entered the conversation of possibly being an All-Star starter when his numbers jumped to 28.3 ppg on 44% shooting from long distance for the month.
Heading into the 2022-23 season, the Jazz were projected to be at the bottom of the lottery, with oddsmakers pegging Utah as a 25-win team. But Utah has proved Las Vegas wrong with the emergence of Markkanen and Rookie of the Year candidate Walker Kessler.
Currently, the Jazz are within striking distance of making the playoffs for the seventh straight year. All-Star weekend kicks off on February 17 at Vivint Arena, with the main event on Sunday the 19.
Meet your 2023 All-Stars.
Eastern Conference Starters
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) *
- Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)
Western Conference Starters
- LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) *
- Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
- Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Eastern Conference Reserves
- Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
- Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
- DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
- Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
Western Conference Reserves
- Paul George (LA Clippers)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
- Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
- Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
- Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)
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