TUCSON, Ariz. – In his sixth year in the National Basketball Association, former Arizona standout Lauri Markkanen was selected to the 2023 NBA All-Star Game as a reserve in his first season with the Utah Jazz.
It is the first all-star selection of Markkanen's career and he becomes the fourth former Wildcat to earn an NBA All-Star nod, joining Sean Elliott (1993, 1996), Gilbert Arenas (2005, 2006, 2007) and Andre Iguodala (2012).
Markkanen is averaging 24.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists while shooting 52.0% from the floor and 43.2% from the 3-point line this season. The Jazz have a record of 27-26 through Feb. 1 and are tied for eighth place in the Western Conference.
At Arizona, Markkanen was a third team All-American in 2017 and a finalist for the Wooden Award and the Karl Malone Award. He finished his lone season by scoring 576 points, the second-most by a UA freshman in program history. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in addition to shooting 49.2% from the floor and 42.3% from long distance.
The 30 NBA coaches selected the 14 reserves, voting for two guards, three frontcourt players and two players at any position in their respective conferences.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were announced last week as the captains alongside the starters for the Feb. 19 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.
For the first time, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the game. The two team captains will draft the team rosters for Team LeBron and Team Giannis from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. The Draft will start at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT/TBS) on Sunday, Feb. 19.
2023 NBA 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)
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 Starters
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) *
Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
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)
* Captains
