Sports stats



Salt Lake City Stars

SLC Stars Announce Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler Bobblehead Giveaways

February 19, 2024 - NBA G League (G League)
Salt Lake City Stars News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, announced today their exclusive bobblehead giveaway, featuring Utah Jazz players Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. The first 1,000 Stars fans to arrive at the Feb. 26 Stars game at Maverik Center vs. the Osceola Magic will receive a Markkanen bobblehead, while the first 1,000 at the Stars game March 5 vs. the Texas Legends will get the Kessler addition, both courtesy of University of Utah Health.

The bobbleheads are an exclusive collector's item featuring Markkanen, a 2023 NBA All-Star and NBA Most Improved Player honoree, and Kessler, a 2024 NBA Rising Stars competitor, each donning their Jazz City Edition jersey in front of the City Edition mountains. Markkanen is captured clutching a broken, icy rim, while Kessler holds a "snow" ball and stands atop of a block of ice. Each comes in a custom box, and although they are individual bobbleheads, they are designed to fit together as a pair, with Markkanen's featuring the left side of the mountain backdrop and Kessler's the right.

In 45 games (all starts) in 2023-24, Markkanen owns averages of 23.4 points on 49.1 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from three, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 32.8 minutes per contest. The 2023 All-Star and NBA's Most Improved Player honoree, is one of only three players in the NBA this season averaging over 20 points, eight boards, and more than three threes per contest. He's recorded seven games with 30 points and 10 rebounds, which is the seventh most 30-point, 10-rebound performances in the NBA on the year.

Kessler is in his second NBA season and was named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team, selected twice as a Rising Star, and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last year. In 2023-24, the 22-year-old is averaging 8.5 points on 65.2 percent shooting from the field, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. His 2.8 blocks per contest are second in the NBA on the year and he's logged eight games with five-plus blocks on the year, which is tied for the second-most games with five-plus blocks in the NBA this season. Over the past two seasons, Kessler has swatted 305 shots - the second-most in the NBA over that span.

Fans will get their first chance to snag the exclusive giveaway item on Tuesday, Feb. 26, as the Stars match up against the Osceola Magic (Orlando Magic affiliate). The game will tip off at 7 P.M. MT at the Maverik Center and be broadcast LIVE on Jazz+ and NBAGleague.com.

Tickets for the Stars games at the Maverick Center on Feb. 26 and March 5 are available for purchase at slcstars.com or the arena box office.

Check out the Salt Lake City Stars Statistics

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from February 19, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Salt Lake City Stars Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central