NBA ALL-STAR SKILLS CHALLENGE

February 18, 2023

Jordan Clarkson

Walker Kessler

Collin Sexton

Press Conference

Q. Did this prove that the Jazz are the most skilled team in the NBA?

COLLIN SEXTON: You see what we had to do. Came out with a victory tonight. We had a little strategy. We didn't practice at all, so we had a little strategy when we got out there.

Q. J.C., what was going on in that first round?

JORDAN CLARKSON: I don't usually stick to the script so I just thought I would take my own route, but told me to go the other way. I had my ears in, and they were, like, wrong direction.

It is what it is. I told them work smarter, not harder (laughing). I said let's go to the easy round. We know we can pass and shoot the ball. All this movement, it's All-Star Weekend, my body shut down.

Q. Last season's All-Star Game at Cleveland, Team Cavs pulled out a victory. What does it mean for Team Jazz to come out with this victory in Utah?

COLLIN SEXTON: It's huge for us. Especially for the city. Honestly just shows the fans how much we appreciate them as well. Tonight we brought a victory home.

JORDAN CLARKSON: Yeah, man, you saw the other team shooting. That Jazz crowd is crazy, huh? (Laughing.)

Q. Walker, this is for you. Yesterday in Rising Stars, your first shot was a three. Hit a couple tonight. Is that something we can expect the rest of the season? Talk to Hardy about it?

JORDAN CLARKSON: Big stretch 5. Big Walk, baby.

WALKER KESSLER: I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and stay on the court.

COLLIN SEXTON: Walk definitely been practicing his threes. Y'all are definitely going to see.

Q. Walker, was it kind of a little bit of vindication that you were able to put away the challenge on that three? Like that won it for you guys?

WALKER KESSLER: It was pretty cool. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I'm confident in my shot, so to see it go in to win the game, even if I missed that, I don't think we were in trouble, because I think I made that, like, 30 seconds left to go. But, you know, definitely felt good.

Q. Did you get a chance to trash-talk with Jabari at all?

WALKER KESSLER: I talked to him in the back. I said, Come on, rook, but then I realized I was a rookie myself.

Yeah, I'll definitely talk trash to him after this. Send him a text, maybe call him, FaceTime. Might even show up to his hotel room, man, knock on his door.

Q. Why were you guys the only team of the three to figure out the sequence of one guy rebounding for the other and...

WALKER KESSLER: Because I came up with the strategy.

Q. For those that don't know, how hard is the Skills Challenge? Just I guess the passing, the shooting, just everything, how difficult is it to actually do it?

JORDAN CLARKSON: For guys like me that don't really pass much (laughing) --

Q. You won for the Jazz. You were the highest.

JORDAN CLARKSON: No, it's tough. No warmup. Cold. I think the arena is a little colder than what it usually is today. Backboard shot? Oh, my God. But, no, it's tough. It's a fun thing, though. As I said, just going out there, getting thrown in the mix.

Q. Does this put more pressure on Lauri to follow through with the 3-Point Contest now?

JORDAN CLARKSON: Yes.

COLLIN SEXTON: I feel like Lauri is going to win. I watched him practice yesterday. He was knocking down shots. Make sure you go watch Lauri.

JORDAN CLARKSON: Yesterday after I left all the parties and stuff at like 5:00, he was still in there shooting racks and knocking it down. So he is ready.