Jazz forward Carlos Boozer was surprised by news that coach Jerry Sloan had yet to decide who would be the team's starting power forward.

Sloan is still deciding between incumbent Boozer and Paul Millsap.

"I feel like I'm the starter," Boozer told the Deseret News on Sunday. "I think I've earned that. That's the only role I've been in my whole career."

The two-time All-Star has started each game he's played in four of his five seasons in Utah.

"I think it's great to have competition," he added. "You know, I think Paul is very good. I guess if we are competing, then we're competing for it. But I feel like I am the starter."

Boozer, who opted into the final year of his contract this summer before appearing to angle for a trade, said that last season's injury shouldn't be held against him.

"Obviously me being hurt, that hurt us a little bit. I think if I was healthy we'd have a higher seed (than eighth in the Western Conference) in the playoffs," he said. "But, at the same time, maybe it does (have an impact on his status).

"You know, I can't control having knee surgery. I had to have it. I tried to avoid it, but I had to have it," added Boozer, who first sustained a quadriceps injury and later underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. "So if it affects me from that respect then that's (Sloan's) decision."

Boozer added that while he wants to start, he'd yield some minutes to Millsap if it meant the Jazz would win more games.