CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers are on the campaign trail for center Jarrett Allen . All they're missing are the yard signs and buttons with a slogan on them.
Following Friday night's blowout win over the Washington Wizards , Isaac Okoro , Donovan Mitchell and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff officially kicked off the campaign for Allen to be named an All-Star. The 2024 NBA All-Star Game is slated for Feb. 18 in Indiana polis.
Allen has been on a tear since Evan Mobley and Darius Garland were both sidelined with injuries . In the nine games between when the Cavs lost those two starters and Friday night's game, Allen averaged 19.1 points, 13 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, along with his usual defensive impact. He added another double Friday night, with 12 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and one rather ferocious dunk.
And the Cavs sound ready to start canvassing the league to make sure Allen is in Indy next month.
"I'm hard-pressed to find a big guy who's playing better than Jarrett Allen ," Bickerstaff said. "I think we all need to take a serious look at his All-Star accolades, because I don't know many big guys, if any, who are playing better than him right now."
Allen is all anyone in the Cavs locker room wanted to talk about postgame. Okoro, when asked a variety of questions with a general nature, kept redirecting his answers toward the big man, who happened to be in the next locker and within earshot.
"Rings to my ears. That sounds lovely to me," Okoro said about Allen being named an All-Star. "I want to see him in Indiana. If he makes the All-Star team, I'll personally fly out there and sit courtside."
When Okoro said that, Allen turned and smiled, surprised. But then Okoro laughed and added, "Eh, don't hold me to that one. I might go back to Atlanta . I lie."
Allen later joked, "Nothing will matter if Isaac's not there, honestly. All this work that I'm putting in goes down the drain if Isaac's not there."
So maybe Okoro won't be courtside in Indianapolis. That's still up for debate. But what is clear is that Okoro is determined to try to get Allen onto the All-Star roster and into the game.
He's not alone. Mitchell , also sitting a few feet away for part of the exchange, kept interjecting while Allen answered questions with modesty and humility about himself or his season-long performance.
When asked if being an All-Star was a personal goal, Allen said, "It'd be nice. Honestly, I know how things work out. I wasn't playing good for the whole season. I sat out at the beginning of it. So, I understand if I'm not and I understand if I am."
Mitchell wasn't satisfied with that answer. He yelled from his seat, "Yes. And he will be."
Bickerstaff has often noted that Allen is vital to everything the Cavs do, especially in the paint. He does things that don't always show up in the box score.
Over the 10 games in which they've been without Garland and Mobley, Allen is arguably the biggest reason that they're somehow 7-3 during a stretch that might have otherwise spiraled out of control. And up next for Allen is a matchup with generational rookie Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Allen often redirects any praise toward a team concept. The Cavs weren't having it.
When asked about his dunk in Friday night's game, Allen only mustered "I haven't seen the replay of it, honestly," before Tristan Thompson (whose locker is also close to Allen's) stood up and yelled, "You baptized the [expletive] out of that [expletive]. This [expletive] is playing like Wilt [Chamberlain]. All-Star. Indianapolis."
The All-Star campaign is in full swing.
"Oh yeah, for sure," Mitchell said. "I know why he keeps being politically correct with all his answers. But definitely starting the All-Star campaign for JA for sure. So make sure you guys vote three times for the next hour and 30 minutes, go vote for him."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2024 NBA All-Star Game: Cavaliers think Jarrett Allen should be there
