Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen's nerves were at an all-time high.
For weeks, he'd been seen as practically a lock for the All-Star Game. His numbers were fantastic, he'd played in most of Utah's games, his team was in the crowded Western Conference playoff race — everything pointed to him as a no-doubt All-Star. That is, until, there was a doubt.
When Paul George was announced as a Western Conference reserve on the TNT broadcast, suddenly a path appeared for Markkanen to be left off the team.
George had played in just 37 games, so the door might have opened up for the likes of Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard, two players who also have missed significant time, to swoop in to take a spot.
He was well aware of that fact, too. So as he sat at home surrounded by his wife and kids watching the broadcast, his heart started pounding more and more with each name called.
"We, obviously, know the great players that were in the hunt," Markkanen said. "And when they announced Paul George … that was kind of a nerve-wracking moment. Then it's waiting for the next name and like, 'Who else is going to be there?' but everything worked out."
Indeed, it did. Markkanen had to sweat it out a bit, but the second-to-last name announced was his, officially making him an All-Star.
That's when the emotions started sinking in. He started thinking of the journey that got him to that point; his decision to come to college in Arizona; his struggles in Chicago, where he looked to be a disappointing lottery pick; the trade to Cleveland where he began to thrive as a role player; his star showing at EuroBasket; then, finally, his move to Utah where he became a star.
"On a personal level, it's what you've been working for," he said. "But just going through the emotions is all the experience in the past that kind of you remember everything that you've kind of gone through in your journey. Everything happens for a reason. … You kind of slowly started thinking like, 'Oh, I kind of had to go through that stuff to get here.'"
As soon as his name was announced, his phone lit up. Messages from people that were part of that journey — big and small — came flying in. He opted to turn his phone to silent and said he'll get to answering the dozens, if not more, of congratulatory messages later.
It was the middle of the night back home in Finland when the teams were announced, and he expected his family was well asleep at that point, so he's planning on calling his parents Friday morning to talk about the happy news.
His teammates, though, didn't have to wait.
When Markkanen arrived at the Jazz practice facility shortly after the announcement, he was greeted by coaches and teammates eager to congratulate Markkanen. The team had said they were expecting the good news to come, and they acted like it. There was confetti, signage and hugs all around to celebrate the accomplishment.
He was quick to credit those teammates and coaches for the reason he can now count himself as an All-Star.
"Just extremely happy with having those teammates around me, and I think it's a big deal for them; they've been a part of it, so just wouldn't be able to do it without them," Markkanen said.
He didn't pencil in being an All-Star as a goal this season, but that's always been in the back of his mind since getting to the NBA — he just didn't vocalize it anywhere. Markkanen came to Utah with the goal of wanting to build a team, not to gain personal recognition. It just so happened that he got one with the other.
"I think I've gotten better as a player every year, and then just getting the opportunity here in Utah and just having the right teammates and right staff and just everybody's buying into the system," he said. "I don't know what would have happened in some other place, but I mean, I wouldn't change a thing."
