The Jazz have been central to the NBA discussion for decades.
They’ve reached 52 playoff series since the league adopted a 16-team postseason in 1984 – tied for fifth-most behind the Lakers (78), Spurs (69), Celtics (60) and Bulls (55). A trendy title pick this season, Utah could break a tie with the Pistons and maybe even match or surpass Chicago. Donovan Mitchell (No. 8 on our list of 50 best players in 5 years) and Rudy Gobert (No. 32 on our list of 50 best players in 5 years) should keep the Jazz competitive for years to come.
Now, Utah will have yet another entry to the forefront of the NBA conversation.
Utah will host the 2023 NBA All-Star game.
In a vacuum, Utah is a fine-enough place to hold All-Star weekend. Salt Lake City also hosted the event in 1993.
But a big drawback is magnified by the upcoming All-Star schedule. The mid-winter weekend is headed to yet another cold-weather city:
- 2020: Chicago
- 2021: Indianapolis
- 2022: Cleveland
- 2023: Salt Lake City
All-Star weekend usually has a festive vibe. That’s difficult to achieve if everyone is freezing.