Jazz’ Conley finally gets NBA All-Star game nod

Mike Conley #10 of the Utah Jazz in action during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 26, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (Photo by Alex Goodlett / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

LOS ANGELES – Mike Conley became one of the oldest first-time all stars in NBA history on Friday, the 33-year-old Utah Jazz player replacing Devin Booker in Sunday’s annual showcase event.

For the past several years, the Jazz guard has been considered one of the NBA’s best players to have never been chosen to play in an all-star game.

He was added to Team LeBron as a replacement for Phoenix Suns Booker, who has an injured left knee.

Conley joins teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert as the Jazz’s third player in the game. Conley will also take Booker’s spot in Sunday’s three-point shooting contest.

The Brooklyn Nets also have three all-stars — James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. But Durant is injured and won’t play.

Like Conley, Booker was a replacement. He was to fill in for Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis.

Conley is in his second year with the Jazz after 12 seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies. He is averaging 16.1 points, 5.7 assists, while shooting over 42 percent from three-point range.

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