L.A., Mexico, San Diego, Miami: Where Jazz players go during the All-Star break

Rudy Gobert couldn’t contain his smile when talking about his plans for all-star break. The details are confidential, the Jazz center said. Just know that he will be in Los Angeles for a few days, before traveling to a remote beach ... somewhere.

Derrick Favors shook hands and bid teammates and media members a confident farewell on Wednesday night in the moments after the Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns for their 11th consecutive win. In past seasons, Favors went into the all-star break not knowing his future. Now, he has a bit of security.

“I’ve always thought there was a chance I was going to be traded,” Favors said. “Now, I can say goodbye, knowing that I’m going to be back.”

And, of course, Jazz star rookie Donovan Mitchell will be busy in Los Angeles this weekend. On Friday night, he will compete in the Rising Stars game, which showcases the top players of the NBA’s rookie and sophomore class. On Saturday night, he will compete in the slam dunk contest, the headline event of All-Star Saturday.

Beyond that, Mitchell said he will spend a few extra days in California. He doesn’t know exactly how he will pass the time between Sunday and Tuesday — the day many Jazz players will return to Salt Lake City. But fans should expect to be updated on social media.

“I’ll definitely have some Instagram posts,” Mitchell said.

On many nights after games, the pace of the Jazz locker room can be slow. Players wait around to get postgame treatment. Then they take long showers, before dressing and addressing the media. On some nights, players are still present a full hour after the final buzzer.

That wasn’t the case on Wednesday after the 107-97 victory over Phoenix. Gobert, Mitchell and Favors quickly filled their media obligations and made a beeline towards the showers. Ekpe Udoh, Raul Neto, Royce O’Neale and Alec Burks were in the process of well-wishes. Joe Ingles, Ricky Rubio and Jae Crowder were already long gone.

It’s a sign that the Jazz played Wednesday’s game with a case of all-star break-itis. The first half of the season has been a long one for Utah, which has had to deal with injuries and a very difficult schedule. The 11-game winning streak has gotten the Jazz back into the playoff race, but it was obvious that they were a tired team on Wednesday against the Suns.

“We definitely need a break,” Gobert said. “It may not look like it, but we need the rest. It will be good to take a few days and get away from it all mentally. We’ll all get back into workouts after a few days, and then we’ll be ready to go when we return.”

O’Neale said he expects to start running again on Sunday, some conditioning designed to keep in shape. But among most of the Jazz talk on Wednesday night centered on where the players would be spending their time off.

Favors, his partner and three children plan on vacationing in San Diego. His family has permanently moved to Atlanta, so it will be a reunion of sorts for the Jazz power forward.

“It’s definitely going to be good seeing them and spending a lot of time with them,” Favors said.

Neto said he is heading for a beach in Miami.

Legendary political activist Angela Davis is speaking at Utah State University in Logan on Thursday night. Udoh plans on attending. He also plans to attend a special screening for the new movie Black Panther on Friday. Then, he will depart for Cabo San Lucas, in Mexico.

Crowder, who’s played three games with the Jazz since being traded to Utah by Cleveland, is going to the Bahamas, reinforcing the sun and the beach theme when it comes to leisure time.

They will need it. The Jazz are currently in the 10th spot in the Western Conference, but just a game and a half out of the eighth and final playoff spot. If the Jazz want to make a run at the postseason, they know they need to keep winning.

“We’ve got to come back and be ready to go,” O’Neale said.