PORTLAND — Reserves for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte will be announced Thursday at 5 p.m. MT on TNT.
After playing with numerous All-Stars in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Deron Williams, Utah Jazz veteran Kyle Korver is certainly campaigning for his teammate Rudy Gobert to get voted in by coaches.
“I think Rudy is definitely deserving,” Korver explained.
However, the 37-year-old understands the boundaries in sharing too much wisdom with younger players as a 16-year professional and one-time All-Star himself in 2015.
“We’ll talk about that if he makes it in,” Korver said of sharing All-Star advice to Gobert. “Let’s make sure he gets it first.”
Ever since being acquired by the Jazz on Nov. 29 from Cleveland in exchange for Alec Burks and two second-round picks, Korver has subtly imparted those previous experiences among teammates when necessary.
In addition to his lethal 3-point shooting, that’s what makes his impact strong in the locker room.
“He doesn’t wear that on his sleeve, he picks his spots and all the guys know,” said Jazz coach Quin Snyder. “There’s been certain concepts that we’ve tried to do with him to use him and give him opportunities that maybe are a little different than our guys are used to.”
Jazz rising star Donovan Mitchell is one of Korver’s main pupils. Mitchell is certainly aware of the four seasons he spent in Philadelphia alongside Iverson and likes to pick his brain about his work ethic and what went into becoming one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
Korver is one of three players, with Ray Allen and Steph Curry, to knock down 2,000 or more treys while shooting at least 40 percent from beyond the arc throughout their career.
“I listen to everything Kyle says,” Mitchell said. “I always make fun of him for wearing the high socks back in the day, I make fun of that all the time, but him and I have a great relationship.
“As soon as he got here, I was so eager to just pick his brain for however long it may have been and I’ve just been nonstop asking questions about A.I., about Bron, about himself, what he sees, how he became the perfectionist in his shot and how I can apply that to myself,” he added.
Korver has certainly experienced a lot, although he’s extremely nonchalant about his past triumphs. Everything from starring in EVO Energy Drink commercials to endorsing Converse sneakers at one point and replacing Wade in the 2015 All-Star Game, due to an injury. The former second-round pick has accomplished much more than average players, but he picks the time and place to share those memories.
All you have to do is ask.
“That had never really been on my radar,” Korver said of making the All-Star team. “I don’t really consider myself that level of player, to be honest with you. That was a really special year for me and for the team I was on.”