Markkanen Holds Steady In Second Round Of All-Star Voting

Jan 12, 2023, 12:58 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 12:04 pm

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Utah Jazz Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – The second round of NBA All-Star voting has been released and Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has held steady after his initial strong returns.

Markkanen remains in seventh place among Western Conference frontcourt players upping his vote total from 466,988 to 845,663.

All-Star voting began on December 20 and will run through January 21, with the All-Star rosters announced in late January and early February.

Lauri Markkanen remains in seventh in the latest round of All-Star voting.#TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/hiiFNyoQjG

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 12, 2023

Just as he did in the first returns, Markkanen trailed LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Andrew Wiggins, and Paul George in All-Star voting, but was ahead of future Hall of Famers Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard.

The Finnish forward is having a breakout season during his first year in Utah. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game while grabbing 8.5 rebounds and handing out 1.9 assists.

He’s also threatening to become only the sixth player in NBA history to join 50/40/90 club while averaging better than 20 points per game. Markkanen is currently shooting 52 percent from the floor, 41 percent from three, and 87 percent from the free throw line.

The NBA will name All-Star starters using a combination of fan voting and voting from current NBA players and media. Starting lineups will consist of two backcourt players and three players in the frontcourt.

Markkanen lacks the votes to be named a starter, but the recognition he’s received in the first two returns is a promising sign that he could earn his first All-Star nod from NBA coaches who select the rosters’ reserves.

Jazz Hosting 2023 All-Star Game

Markkanen would be the Jazz lone representative on All-Star Sunday Night when they host the event for the first time since 1993.

“We’re going to roll in Utah from Salt Lake to Park City,” Jazz owner Ryan Smith said during the 2022 All-Star broadcast at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. “Don’t come for a couple of days, come for the whole week.”

Last February the Jazz released a video of all 30 All-Star Weekend logos dating back to the last time the event was held in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz were awarded the 2023 game in 2019 when the team was still under the ownership of the Miller family.

In 2016, Vivint Arena received a $125 million renovation under the Miller’swhich helped them land the star-studded weekend.

Both Sacramento and Milwaukee also bid on the 2023 All-Star Weekend which is expected to generate $45-50 million in economic impact for the state according to former Governor Gary Herbert.

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