Jazz Guard Mike Conley To Replace Devin Booker At All-Star Game

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley will take part in the NBA All-Star game after all. Conley is being brought in as a replacement for Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.

Now in his 14th season, Conley earned the bid having averaged 16.4 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds. The Jazz guard is shooting 44 percent from the floor and 42 percent from the three-point line in 29 games this season.

Conley wasn’t selected as one of the initial seven reserves for the team, and Booker was chosen to replace Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis who is also missing the game due to injury.

🌟 @utahjazz Guard @MCONLEY10 has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker on #TeamDurant in the 2021 #NBAAllStar Game. pic.twitter.com/5q8E6j0i9o

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) March 6, 2021

The veteran guard will be joined by Gobert and Jazz backcourt teammate Donovan Mitchell at the All-Star game. Jazz coach Quin Snyder will also make his All-Star game overseeing Team LeBron after leading the Jazz to the best record in the NBA through the first half of the season.

Before reserves were selected in mid-February, Conley made the case for his All-Star selection.

“I think that this year is everything is falling into place, ” Conley said. “We have the best record, we’ve got a coach coaching the West team. So it’s all falling in line, if it’s not going to happen this year, that’d be tough.”

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were picked last in #NBAAllStar Draft.

LeBron James said the picks weren't slander against the Jazz, "We never played with Utah."#TakeNote https://t.co/AcbXWFMogH

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 5, 2021

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker, Los Angels Clippers forward Paul George, and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williams were selected as Western Conference reserves in addition to Conley’s Jazz teammates.

“I really, really thought this was the year,” Conley said after not being selected by the league’s coaches as a reserve. “I joked with the guys on the team that I blame them. We should have started the year 31-0. Maybe that would have given me a chance, but I don’t know what else to do.”

Conley will also replace Booker in the Three-Point Contest where he’ll compete against Mitchell.

This marks the first time the Jazz will be represented by three All-Stars since 1989 when Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Mark Eaton were selected to the team.

The All-Star game is being held Sunday night in Atlanta. Gobert and Snyder will represent team LeBron, while Mitchell and Conley will play for Team Durant.