Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell named NBA All-Star reserves

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, left, and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell during victory over Cleveland at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. | Silas Walker, Deseret News

DENVER — This is not a drill. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are NBA All-Stars.

Gobert, who was infamously emotional after being left off the All-Star roster last season, is averaging 15.7 points, 14.6 rebounds, and two blocks per game while shooting at a career-best 68.6 percent.

The two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year was the first person to have earned the year-end award multiple times and not been named to a single All-Star team. That is no longer the case as he will be headed to Chicago for the All-Star festivities and the main event on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Joining Gobert as a first-time All-Star is Mitchell, who is averaging career-highs across the board with 25 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting at a career best 46.2 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from 3-point range.

Mitchell, who has competed in (and won) the Slam Dunk contest as well as competed in the Rising Stars challenge during All-Star Weekend noted on Wednesday that he’d given thought to the possibility of being part of the headlining game.

“It’d be an incredible honor,” he said. “I’ve done every night except Sunday. I did Saturday my rookie year, and Friday my sophomore year. So hopefully I’ll get the call.”

The call came for the pair on Thursday during a TNT broadcast that announced the NBA coaches selections for All-Star reserves.

Also on the broadcast, former Weber State star Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers was named an All-Star for the fifth time in his career.

This story will be updated.

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