Maccanan: I Was Nervous When I Saw George Get Selected

In the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, which will be held at the home of the Jazz in the middle of this month, it is determined that the landlord will not miss this year. In the All-Star Game reserve list announced today, Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who played a representative game this season, was selected for the first time in his career. He admitted that participating in the All-Star Game has always been his goal.

The Jazz was expected to be out of the All-Star Game this year after sending off two of its biggest stars, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, during last year's offseason. However, Makanen, who came to Salt Lake City in the Mitchel trade, has had the best season of his career. Today, he was selected as the All-Star Game substitute.

"When they announced George, it was a really nervous moment because I knew he was competing with me for that spot. But when it came out, I was really happy," he said.

On his season in Salt Lake City last year that surprised the outside world and even himself, culminating in an All-Star Game, he said: "On a personal level, it's something you work towards and you remember everything you've been through on this journey and things happen for a reason, so while I'm happy when it happens, slowly I have to think about what it took to get me here."

In addition to Makkanen, the Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton, the Grizzly Bears' Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all made their first All-Star Games this year.