33. The Return Of All-Star Weekend

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz open their season on October 20, just 33 days from today. With the clock ticking, we look at 50 things for Jazz fans to be excited about leading up to the 2021-22 NBA season. Coming in at number 33, the return of All-Star weekend.

Return Of All-Star Weekend

The NBA will see the return of All-Star weekend this year, with the league taking the annual event to Cleveland to celebrate the best players the world has to offer.

Surprisingly, despite the last two NBA seasons being dramatically altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the league hasn’t missed the star-studded ceremony with All-Star 2020 being held in Chicago, and a bit of an impromptu celebration and game held in Atlanta.

Our countdown of the top 50 reasons to be excited for the 2021-22 @utahjazz season. #TakeNote https://t.co/X45AS6m2de

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 8, 2021

When the 2020-21 season began, it was believed that while All-Star teams would be named, it would be an honorary announcement without an actual game being held.

However, due to the financial implications of losing the game, the league moved the game, originally slated for Indiana, to State Farm Arena in Georgia. And, rather than a full weekend’s worth of events, the individual contests and the game itself were held in one night.

This year, the league plans to return to the full weekend format, with the three-point contest, skills challenge, and dunk contest held on All-Star Saturday night, with the game being held on Sunday.

The three-point contest, skills challenge, and dunk contest will be held on February 19 with the main event being held on February 20.

#NBAAllStar 2022 is in Cleveland, OH! The 71st annual NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the Cavaliers, during the NBA’s 75th anniversary season. pic.twitter.com/b8xN572dOU

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) March 8, 2021

Cleveland was awarded the 2022 All-Star weekend after significantly renovating Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The city last hosted the event in 1997.

Last season, the Jazz were incredibly well represented during the All-Star events. Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert were each elected to the team, while Quin Snyder coached Team LeBron.

Both Mitchell and Conley competed in the three-point shooting contest with Conley coming in second place.

While Jazz fans will have to wait for one more season before the All-Star game heads to Salt Lake City, a return to the traditional weekend festivities in 2022 is one of the 50 biggest stories to look forward to ahead of opening night.