Rudy Gobert Named To Third Consecutive All-Star Team
Feb 3, 2022, 5:05 PM | Updated: 5:13 pm
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert dunks at the NBA All-Star game (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been named an All-Star for the third consecutive season. The big man was selected by the NBA’s coaches as one of seven reserves to represent the Western Conference in the game.
Gobert is having arguably the best season of his career despite the team’s recent struggles, averaging personal bests in points, rebounds, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.
The now three-time All-Star is averaging 16.0 points, an NBA-best 15.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.3 blocks while shooting a league-leading 70 percent from the floor and career-high 69 percent from the three-throw line.
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Gobert is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to average better than 15 points and 15 rebounds while shooting better than 70 percent from the field.
Only Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain has reached those averages while shooting better than 65 percent from the field.
The Jazz currently sit at 31-21 and in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, after a disastrous 4-12 record during the month of January.
However, most of the Jazz’s recent struggles are due to the absence of Gobert. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has missed 10 of the team’s last 15 games, and the Jazz are just 2-8 in his absence.
The @NBA announced the Eastern and Western Conference #NBAAllStar starters. 🏀 https://t.co/6dLz5cAVAW
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 28, 2022
Last week, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Andrew Wiggins, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic were named as the starting pool of players from the Western Conference.
Those players were chosen by a combination of fan, player, and media voting. Gobert received the fourth most votes by fellow players and the third most votes by the media but was hurt by finishing among the fan vote.
After the initial five starters are selected by the combination vote, NBA coaches fill out the remaining seven spots on the All-Star rosters.
Those players then enter a draft pool for the All-Star game, with teams being chosen by captains from the Easter and Western Conferences. Just as they did last season, LeBron James and Kevin Durant will serve as captains for the two teams after receiving the most votes during the initial voting process.
The 2022 NBA All-Star game will be played on February 20 in Cleveland, Ohio. The All-Star weekend will include a revamped rookie-sophomore tournament, the three-point shooting competition, skills challenge, and dunk contest before Sunday’s main event.
Gobert has averaged 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in his two previous All-Star appearances.
