Jazz's Donovan Mitchell Out of 2022 NBA All-Star Game with Non-COVID-19 Illness

Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has announced he will not participate in Sunday's All-Star Game because of an upper respiratory illness not related to COVID-19:

Mitchell was set to play for Team LeBron in Cleveland.

The guard missed time earlier this season with a back injury and was placed in concussion protocol in January.

The 25-year-old is Utah's go-to option on the offensive end. He has averaged better than 20 points per game in every season of his career and helped lead the Jazz to the best record in the NBA last season.

Mitchell averaged 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in 2020-21 and has followed with 25.7 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals a night this season.

The Louisville product can create and facilitate with the ball in his hands or play off the ball as someone who can hit from the outside and attack the rim. It is difficult to envision the Jazz can challenge the best teams in the Western Conference if he is not on the floor come playoff time.

If Mitchell is sidelined for the Jazz after the All-Star break, look for the team to turn to the combination of Jordan Clarkson and Jared Butler for more playing time.