Utah Jazz
Encyclopedia
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball
team based in Salt Lake City, Utah
. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division
of the Western Conference
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). The franchise began in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz, in New Orleans, Louisiana
, but the team moved to Utah in 1979 after just five seasons.
The Jazz were one of the most unsuccessful teams in the league in their early years, and it would be 10 years before they made a playoff appearance (in 1984). They would not miss the playoffs again until 2004. During the late 1980s, John Stockton
and Karl Malone
arose as the franchise players for the team, and formed one of the most famed point guard
–power forward
duos in NBA history. Led by coach Jerry Sloan
, who took over for Frank Layden
in 1988, they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, culminating in two NBA Finals appearances in 1997
and 1998
, where they lost both times to the Chicago Bulls
, led by Michael Jordan
. Both Stockton and Malone moved on in 2003. After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons the Jazz returned to prominence under the on-court leadership of point guard Deron Williams
. However, partway through the 2010-11 season, the Jazz began a restructuring after the retirement of Jerry Sloan and trade of Deron Williams. As of 2011, the Jazz are the only team in the "Big Four" sports leagues located in the state of Utah.
(who had played collegiately at LSU) from the Atlanta Hawks
for two first-round draft picks, three second-round picks, and one third-round pick over the next three years. Although he was considered one of the most entertaining players in the league and won the scoring championship in 1977 with 31.1 points per game, the Jazz' best record while in New Orleans was 39–43 in the 1977–78 season. Maravich struggled with knee injuries from that season onward.
Venue issues were a continual problem for the team while on New Orleans. In the Jazz's first season, when they played in the Loyola University
Fieldhouse
, the basketball court was raised so high that the players' association made the team put a net around the court so that players wouldn't fall off of the court and into the stands. Later, they played games in the Louisiana Superdome
, but things were no better due to high demand for the stadium, onerous lease terms and Maravich's constant knee problems. They also faced the prospect of spending a whole month on the road each year due to Mardi Gras
festivities. Years later, founding owner Sam Battisone claimed that there was no contingency plan in case the Jazz ever made the playoffs. However, the Superdome's manager at the time, Bill Curl, said that the stadium's management always submitted a list of potential playoff dates to the Jazz management, but these letters were never answered.
After what turned out to be their final season in the Big Easy, the Jazz were dealt one final humiliation when the Los Angeles Lakers
selected Magic Johnson
with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft
. The pick would have belonged to the Jazz had they not traded it to Los Angeles to acquire Gail Goodrich
two years earlier. To make matters worse, the Jazz had given up the rights to Moses Malone
in order to regain one of the three first-round picks used for the Goodrich trade; the combination of Magic and Moses blossoming into Hall of Famers and Goodrich's ineffective, injury-ruined few years in New Orleans made this one of the most lopsided transactions in NBA history.
Battisone concluded that the franchise could not be viable in New Orleans and decided to move elsewhere. After scouting out several new homes, he decided to move to Salt Lake City, even though it was a smaller market than New Orleans at the time. However, Salt Lake City had proven it could support a pro basketball team when it played host to the American Basketball Association
's Utah Stars
from 1970 to 1976. The Stars had been extremely popular in the city, but their finances inexplicably collapsed in their last two seasons, and they folded in December 1975 after playing only 16 games of the ABA's final season. Although Salt Lake City was not known for its jazz culture, the team decided to keep the name, as well as the team's original colors of green, purple and gold (the colors of Mardi Gras). Some were offended by the Jazz keeping the franchise name after moving from New Orleans, citing it as a metaphor for the theft of Jazz from its cultural roots.
The Jazz's attendance actually declined slightly after the team's move from New Orleans to Utah, due to a late approval for the move (June 1979) and poor marketing in the Salt Lake City area. The team's management made the first of several moves in 1979, bringing high-scoring forward Adrian Dantley
to Utah in exchange for Spencer Haywood
. Dantley averaged 28.0 points per game during the 1979-80 season, allowing the team to waive Pete Maravich
early in the year. The team struggled to a 24-58 mark, but was rewarded with the 2nd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, which they used to pick Darrell Griffith of Louisville, another piece of the rebuilding puzzle.
During the 1980-81 NBA Season, the club struggled financially as well as on the court. Despite having perennial All-Star Dantley, a 20 point per game scorer in Griffith; as well as emerging point guard Rickey Green
, the Jazz were unable to produce a winning team, going 28-54.
Tom Nissalke
departed as coach after the team started the 1981-82 season with an 8-12 record, and General Manager Frank Layden
replaced him. Layden's coaching wasn't an improvement initially, as the Jazz went 17-45 the rest of that season to finish 25-57.
The 1982 NBA Draft
saw the Jazz pick forward Dominique Wilkins
, who was reluctant to play for them. Combined with the cash-strapped ownership, this produced another trade to improve cash flow - Atlanta gave up guards John Drew
and Freeman Williams, plus $1 million in cash, for the rights to Wilkins.
For the 1982-83 season, Dantley ended up missing 60 of 82 games due to injury, depriving the team of its leading scorer for much of the season. Newcomer John Drew also missed time, playing in only 44 games. The Jazz ended up being led by Darrell Griffith (22.2 ppg), Rickey Green (14.3 ppg), and Danny Schayes
(12.4 ppg). A rookie 7'4" center, Mark Eaton
, began manning the post as well. The team finished 30-52, still out of the playoffs, but an improvement over recent years.
During the 1983 NBA Draft, the Jazz used their first-round pick, #7 overall, to choose Thurl Bailey, of the 1983 NCAA Champion North Carolina State University
Wolfpack, and later took Bobby Hansen of the University of Iowa
, in the third round, 54th overall.
1983-84 opened as a season of uncertainty. The team was losing money, and management was crafting stunts, such as playing games in Las Vegas, to help the team be more profitable. The team was rumored to be moving from Utah also, due to the small market and ownership's struggles financially. However, the team's fortunes on the court continued to improve, with a healthy Adrian Dantley
, Jeff Wilkins
, and rookie Thurl Bailey
at the forward positions, Mark Eaton
& Rich Kelley
jointly manning the post, and Rickey Green
with Darrell Griffith at the guards, and John Drew
providing 17 points per night off the bench. The team went 45-37 and won the Midwest Division, their first division title in team history.
They advanced to the NBA Playoffs, defeating the Denver Nuggets
3-2 in the first round, and moved on to play the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Despite having homecourt in the best of seven series, the Jazz lost to the more experienced Suns, 4-2.
Jazz fans were not happy a month later, when the team picked an unknown point guard in the 1st round of the NBA Draft
, John Stockton of Gonzaga. The Jazz fans on hand for the draft party booed the selection.
as a defensive force. averaging 5.56 blocks per game along with 9.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
. On the downside, John Drew played only 19 games on the season, depriving the team of their high-scoring sixth man. Despite that, the Jazz returned to the playoffs, facing off with the Houston Rockets and their All-Star Centers, Hakeem Olajuwon
and Ralph Sampson
. The Jazz prevailed in the series, 3-2, advancing to the second round to face the high-scoring Denver Nuggets
. Utah fell to Denver, 4-1 in the second-round series.
The team's perennial financial woes and instability were somewhat stabilized during April 1985, when Larry H. Miller
bought 50% of the team for $8 million, and became a co-owner with Sam Battistone, who had been seeking to move the team. In the 1985 NBA Draft
the team added Karl Malone
from Louisiana Tech
, a 6'9" 250 pound power forward
.
Malone made an immediate impact in the , averaging 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per outing, supplementing Dantley in the frontcourt. However, starting guard Darrell Griffith missed the entire season with a stress fracture, and the team hovered around the .500 mark most of the year. In the 1985-86 postseason, the Jazz faltered in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks, losing the series 3-1.
During the offseason in 1986, co-owner Sam Battistone was approached to sell the team to Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, who would have moved the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Larry Miller didn't want to sell the team, but due to contractual language in his agreement with Battistone, could have been bought out by the new owners if he refused to sell. Offers went as high as $28 million for the team as a whole during this process (the Jazz were valued at $16 million less than a year earlier when Miller purchased half for $8 million). Miller stepped in at the last minute and purchased the remaining 50% of the team for $14 million, buying out the original contract with Battistone, and kept the team in Utah. Wolfenson and Ratner later became the founders of the Minnesota Timberwolves
expansion franchise which, coincidentally, was almost sold and moved to New Orleans in 1994.
The 1986-87 season was one of change. Adrian Dantley
, the team's star player that had carried them through the early years in Utah, was traded to Detroit for Kelly Tripucka
, who ended up splitting time with Thurl Bailey. Darrell Griffith, back from injuries that caused him to miss the 1985-86 season, lost his starting spot at guard to Bobby Hansen. John Stockton was warranting more time behind, and in front of, Rickey Green at the point guard position. Amidst all these changes, the team went 44-38 on the season, and lost to the Golden State Warriors
in the first round of the playoffs.
For the 1987-88 Season, John Stockton
took over for Rickey Green
as the starting point guard, and Karl Malone
began establishing himself as one of the better power forwards in the league. That year, the team finished 47-35 and defeated Portland, 3-1, in the first round, earning a second round matchup with the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
. After LA took Game 1 at home, the Jazz surprised the Lakers by winning Game 2 in LA, 101-97, and took the lead in the series 2-1 with a Game 3 win in Salt Lake City. The Jazz lost Games 4 and 5, but fought back to demolish the Lakers in Game 6, 108-80, tying the series 3-3. In the deciding Game 7, the Lakers prevailed, 109-98. But the Jazz had shown they were no longer the pushover of their early days.
. The Jazz won 51 games and the Midwest Division title as the team grew better overall. Malone and Stockton, as well as Mark Eaton, were All-Stars. Eaton won Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, and it appeared the Jazz were ready to take the next step in the post-season, after having pushed the Los Angeles Lakers
to seven games in the 2nd round the previous year. However, in a playoff upset, the #7 seeded Golden State Warriors defeated the #2 seeded Jazz, 3 games to 0, in the first round, ending the Jazz's season abruptly.
In the following year, 1989–90, the Jazz made some changes, with Bobby Hansen supplanting Darrell Griffith as the starting guard alongside Stockton. Also Thurl Bailey, relied on for 19 points per game the previous year, had his role reduced somewhat, as rookie forward–guard Blue Edwards played a prominent role in the front court. Mike Brown, a backup forward–center, spelled Mark Eaton more frequently. The results were the best win–loss mark in team history, with the Jazz going 55–27 and finishing second in the division to the San Antonio Spurs (56–26). Karl Malone had his best season statistically, averaging 31.0 points and 11.1 rebounds. John Stockton averaged 17.2 points and 14.5 assists per outing, both career highs, with the assist total and average leading the NBA that year. In the playoffs, they were matched up with the Phoenix Suns
, led by All-Stars Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson
. Phoenix defeated the Jazz 3–2 in the first round. Once again, the Jazz were left with questions as to how they could do so well in the regular season but fail to advance in the playoffs.
was brought to Utah from the Washington Bullets, while Eric Leckner
and Bobby Hansen were sent from Utah to the Sacramento Kings
, and Pervis Ellison
ended up going from Sacramento to Washington.
The Jazz began the season 22-15, then found their stride, going 27-8 during January and February, with new addition Jeff Malone
averaging 18.6 points that year, giving the Jazz three strong scoring options (Karl Malone, Jeff Malone, and John Stockton – 64.8 of the team's 104 points per game). The Jazz finished 54-28, 2nd in the division to San Antonio by 1 game, similar to their division finish the prior year. In the playoffs, they met the Phoenix Suns for the second year in a row, but this time the Jazz were ready. Game 1 was a blowout in Utah's favor, on Phoenix's home floor, 129-90, setting the tone for the series, as Utah eliminated the Suns 3-1, earning a second round match-up with the Portland Trail Blazers, the defending Western Conference Champions. The Jazz played well, keeping close in most of the games, but ultimately lost the series 4–1 to the deeper and more experienced Blazers.
The 1991-92 season proved to be the most successful in history, to that time, for the Jazz. They moved to a newly built home, the Delta Center, a state-of-the art arena that seated 19,911 fans. This was a huge improvement over the Salt Palace, which seated just over 12,000 and lacked luxury suites and retail space. Early in the year, a trade brought Tyrone Corbin
, a tough, defensive forward, from Minnesota in exchange for fan-favorite Thurl Bailey
.
The Jazz went 55-27 over the season, winning the Midwest Division Title for the first time since 1989, and looked to advance farther in the postseason. In the playoffs, the Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers
3-2 in the first round, then took care of the Seattle SuperSonics
in the second round, 4-1, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time, where they faced the Portland Trail Blazers
. Once again, Portland proved to be the superior team, defeating the Jazz 4-2 in the series and denying them a trip to the NBA Finals.
The 1992-93 season proved to be a disappointment compared with the years before, with a 47-35 mark and 3rd place in the division. The center position, manned capably by Mark Eaton for most of the past decade, became suspect as Eaton struggled with injuries and age. The bright spot was the hosting of the All-Star Game and the surrounding events of All-Star Weekend. The Jazz had a disappointing run in the playoffs
as well, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round, 3-2. During the postseason, the team addressed the center position by acquiring 7'0" Felton Spencer from Minnesota, in return for backup center Mike Brown.
During the 1993–94 season, the Jazz traded Jeff Malone
to the Philadelphia 76ers
for shooting guard
Jeff Hornacek
. Hornacek meshed well with Stockton, and the Jazz improved to a 53–29 record for the year. In the playoffs, they faced San Antonio in the first round, shutting down NBA scoring leader David Robinson
in the series. Robinson had averaged 29.8 points on 50% shooting during the regular season, numbers that dropped to 20.0 and 41% against Utah. The Jazz then fought off a determined Denver Nuggets
team 4–3 in the conference semi-finals (almost blowing a 3–0 series lead in the process), to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion Houston Rockets
4–1.
In the 1994–95 season, the Jazz had significant depth and talent at their disposal and were expected to make a serious run for the championship. However, they lost starting center Felton Spencer 34 games into the season with a ruptured Achilles Tendon. The Jazz were deep enough to still finish with a 60–22 record. However, the Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets
in the first round of the playoffs
, 3-2.
Big man Greg Ostertag
was added to the team for the 1995–96 season. The Jazz went 55-27, and reached the conference finals for the third time in history, nearly overcoming a 3–1 series deficit, but eventually losing to the Seattle SuperSonics 4–3.
had their best record in franchise history at 64–18, winning the Midwest Division and finishing with the best overall record in the Western Conference. The team was made up of the mainstays, Stockton
, Malone
, and Hornacek
, as well as Bryon Russell
, Antoine Carr
, Howard Eisley
, and Shandon Anderson
. Malone won his first NBA MVP
for the 1996-97 regular season, averaging 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
The Jazz reached the NBA Finals
for the first time after beating the Los Angeles Clippers
3–0, Los Angeles Lakers
4–1, and Houston Rockets
4-2. The Jazz then met Michael Jordan
and the Chicago Bulls
in the finals, losing to the Bulls 4–2, with the last two games being decided in the final seconds (scores of 90–88 and 90–86).
During the offseason, the Jazz made no significant changes to their roster. As the 1997–98 season neared, the Jazz were expected to be contenders for the championship once again. However, Stockton suffered a serious knee injury
before the season began, and missed the first 18 games, in which the Jazz went 11-7. Once Stockton returned, the team went 51-13 the rest of the way, mirroring their winning pace of the year before, to finish at 62–20 for the season, winning the Midwest Division and also homecourt advantage for the playoffs
.
In the playoffs, the Jazz beat the Houston Rockets
3–2, and the San Antonio Spurs
4–1, to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight year. Utah, with a veteran core of Stockton, Malone and Hornacek (averaging 34.3 years of age), were facing a Los Angeles Lakers
squad led by superstar Shaquille O'Neal
, guards Eddie Jones
, Nick Van Exel
, and a young Kobe Bryant
. The Jazz set the tone for the series with a resounding win in Game 1, 112-77. Game 2 was much closer, a 99-95 Jazz victory, and Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles were decided by an average of 7.5 points. However, the Jazz prevailed in a sweep, 4-0, giving the Los Angeles their first series sweep since the 1989 NBA Finals, and earning a 2nd straight trip to the NBA Finals.
In the 1998 NBA Finals
, the Jazz took Game 1 at home, 88–85 in overtime. However, the Bulls overcame a slow start to win Game 2, 93–88, easily took Game 3, 96–54 and won a closer Game 4, 86–82 to lead 3–1 in the series. The Jazz fought back to win Game 5 on the road, 83–81, to trail 3-2 in the series, with Game 6 (and a Game 7 if needed) in Salt Lake City. The Jazz held a lead in most of Game 6, but the Bulls rallied, and in the last seconds of the game, Michael Jordan
made a jump shot to win the game, 87–86, and the series for Chicago, 4-2.
In the 1999 season, shortened to 50 games due to a lockout
, the Jazz finished the season 37–13, tied with the Spurs for the best record in the league. They defeated the Sacramento Kings
in five games in the first round of the playoffs
. However, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers
. Despite yet another disappointment, Malone was awarded his second MVP.
During the 1999–00 season, the Jazz finished 55–27 and won the Midwest Division but once again struggled in the postseason
, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers
, again during the second round. During the offseason, Hornacek retired and Howard Eisley
was traded in a four-team deal that brought in Donyell Marshall
. They selected promising high school basketball star DeShawn Stevenson
in the first round of the NBA Draft
.
In the 2000–01 season, they went 53–29, but they faltered in the playoffs, surrendering a 2–0 series lead in the first round of the playoffs
to the Dallas Mavericks
, to lose the series 3-2. It was their earliest exit from the playoffs since the 1994-95 season.
In the 2001–02 season, Andrei Kirilenko
made his rookie debut, averaging 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.91 blocks per game. The team started slowly, going 16-15 over the first two months, and finished 12-13 to go 44-38 overall. They lost to the Sacramento Kings
3–1 in the first round of the playoffs
.
Prior to the 2002–03, Marshall and Russell moved on to other teams. Forward Matt Harpring
was brought over from the Philadelphia 76ers
. He took over the starting forward spot next to Malone and averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, the best numbers of his career. The Jazz approached 50 wins going into the playoffs
, ultimately going 47–35. They faced the Sacramento Kings
once again, losing in a seven-game first round series, 4–1.
After the season, the end of an era came when Stockton retired, and Malone left as a free agent to join the Los Angeles Lakers
.
. Surprisingly, the Jazz finished with a 42–40 record. The team featured several unheralded players who emerged into key contributors, including Kirilenko, Raja Bell
, and Carlos Arroyo
. In particular, Kirilenko demonstrated versatility on both offense and defense and earned a spot in the All-Star Game
. The Jazz missed the playoffs by just one game to the Denver Nuggets
, ending their streak of 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Jerry Sloan
finished second in the voting for the NBA Coach of the Year Award
, losing to Hubie Brown
of the Memphis Grizzlies.
During the offseason, the team made moves to bolster their roster, acquiring Carlos Boozer
and Mehmet Okur
as free agents and re-signing Carlos Arroyo and Gordan Giricek
to extensions.
The 2004-05 season was marked by a series of injuries, first to Arroyo and Raul Lopez
, and later to Boozer and Kirilenko, which were a large part of the team's fall to the bottom of the division. When healthy, Boozer filled the power forward position ably, averaging 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 51 games. The Jazz ended the 2004–05 season with a record of 26–56, their worst since the 1981-82 season.
In the summer of 2005, the Jazz continued to shape their roster by trading three draft picks in order to acquire the #3 pick overall, which they used to select point guard Deron Williams
of the University of Illinois
. Other transactions included Raja Bell leaving the team for the Phoenix Suns
, the Jazz re-obtaining center Greg Ostertag from the Kings, and oft-injured point guard Raul Lopez
being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies
.
The 2005–06 season was injury-plagued before it even started; Boozer missed the first 49 games and Gordan Giricek
and Kirilenko both missed significant time due to injuries. Okur and Kirilenko, however, showed consistently good play, while Williams, despite a mid-season slump, did not disappoint. However, team owner Larry Miller
continually expressed his displeasure with the team's effort during that year. The Jazz stayed in the playoff race until the third-to-last game, when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks
. The Jazz ended the season 41–41 and just 3 games out of the playoffs
. Ostertag retired at the end of the season, having spent 10 of his 11 NBA seasons with the team.
In the 2006 NBA Draft
, the Jazz selected promising University of Arkansas shooting guard Ronnie Brewer
in the first round and in the second round selected point guard Dee Brown and power forward Paul Millsap
. Several young players were traded away for Golden State Warriors
guard Derek Fisher
, giving them a veteran point guard. The Jazz were heralded by several major sports websites for drafting well and making good offseason moves.
was selected to the All-Star game
as well. Deron Williams had a breakout sophomore season, finishing third in the league in assists per game with 9.3 (behind Steve Nash
and Chris Paul
).
The team also developed a deep bench; in the 10 games that Boozer and Okur (the two leading scorers) missed, the team went 8–2. Paul Millsap
was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, becoming a competent backup to Boozer. Despite the elevated play of the Jazz's budding stars, Kirilenko showed a significant drop in his statistics and seemed to struggle adapting to his reduced role. This eventually led to a well-publicized breakdown early in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jazz faced the Houston Rockets
in the first round that year, a matchup of #4-#5 seeds (Utah was seeded higher due to winning the Northwest Division, but Houston had a 52-30 record opposed to Utah's 51-31, giving them homecourt in the series). It was a physical, close-fought matchup, with each of the first 6 games being won by the home team. The Jazz were able to break this trend in the 7th game, beating the Rockets 103–99 in Houston. The Jazz then went on to face the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors
, who were coming off a historic upset of the #1-seeded Dallas Mavericks
(who had gone 67–15 in the regular season, one of the best in NBA history). However, the Jazz easily handled the Warriors, winning the series 4–1. The Jazz then faced the San Antonio Spurs
in the Western Conference Finals, but were unable to handle the more experienced Spurs, losing 4 games to 1 in the series to the eventual NBA Champions.
During the offseason, the Jazz gained a hometown D-League affiliate in the Utah Flash
(based in Orem
), which they shared with the Boston Celtics
. They selected shooting guard Morris Almond
in the first round, although ultimately they made few lineup changes. The most significant move was in letting Derek Fisher
go. Fisher had become a fan favorite due to his strong play, and also a sympathetic one due to his daughter's well-publicized battle with a rare form of eye cancer. Fisher moved to Los Angeles
during the offseason to be closer to better care for his daughter, and later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
, with whom he won three championships from 2000–2002. Controversy arose after Andrei Kirilenko led his Russian national team
to a win in EuroBasket 2007
(the European championship), a tournament in which he was named MVP. After this, Kirilenko posted on a blog that he wished to be traded from the Jazz and would be willing to walk away from his contract. He later reaffirmed this in interviews. However, no trade was made and he remained with the team.
During the 2007–08 season, after a trade that sent guard Gordan Giricek to the Philadelphia 76ers
in exchange for guard Kyle Korver
, the Jazz ran off a record-tying 19-game home winning streak and improved on the road after a rough December. Despite the off-season controversy and trade talk, Kirilenko elevated his play, improving all stats from the previous season and seeming content with his new role more as a defender and a facilitator as opposed to a scorer. Carlos Boozer
again won an All-Star selection, while Deron Williams
continued to elevate his play, averaging 13.3 assists per game in March (as opposed to 10.5 for the season as a whole). The Jazz finished the regular season 5th best in the west with a 54–28 record. For the first time since the 97-98 season, the Jazz sold out every home game, and they possessed a phenomenal 37-4 home record; this was, however, offset by a subpar road record.
The Jazz once again became matched against the Houston Rockets
in the first round of the playoffs, this time as a #4 seed (although the Rockets possessed home-court advantage due to a better record). The Jazz jumped out to a quick 2-0 series lead in Houston, but lost the first game in Salt Lake City. After splitting the next two games, the Jazz dealt the Rockets a 113-91 blowout victory in game 6, placing them into a second-round matchup with the #1 seed Los Angeles Lakers
, their first postseason meeting since the since the 1998
Western Conference Finals. Utah lost games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles. However the Jazz held up their great home winning record by defeating Los Angeles in Games 3 and 4. The Jazz lost game 5 in L.A. and were eventually eliminated in Game 6. The Jazz made no major offseason moves during the following offseason, though Deron Williams was an integral part of the Gold-Medal winning Redeem Team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The 2008–09 season
was difficult for the Jazz as they struggled with consistent injuries that continually disrupted the chemistry of the team, and although they were once again nearly unstoppable at home, they possessed a poor road record. Utah's top three players all missed significant times due to sickness or injuries; Deron Williams
missed 13 of the first 15 games, Carlos Boozer missed more than half of the season, and Mehmet Okur missed sporadic time due to both injuries and his father's sickness that forced him to travel to his native Turkey
early in the season. On February 20, 2009, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller
died of complications from diabetes
. His son, Greg Miller, became the new CEO of the team. The Jazz finished with a 48–34 record, causing them to slip to #8 in the competitive Western Conference playoff race, after which they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the second year in a row, 4 games to 1.
The season ended up being the last for long-time radio and former TV announcer Hot Rod Hundley, who announced his retirement after being with the Jazz for their entire history (35 years). Despite the disappointment, Deron Williams proved himself to be one of the elite point guards of the league, averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 assists per game, second in the league, despite playing the entire season with a lingering ankle injury.
During the 2009 NBA Draft
, the Jazz selected point guard Eric Maynor
#20 overall to back up Deron Williams. Veteran Matt Harpring retired, citing consistent injuries sustained from his physical playing style. Rumors began to circulate that Boozer wanted a trade, fueled by rumors that the Jazz were shopping him after he chose to "opt-in" to the last year of his contract; however, the team stated publicly that they were not seeking to trade him, and Boozer remained with the team heading into the 2009–10 season
. The Jazz also added rookie shooting guard Wesley Matthews
to the lineup after an impressive training camp.
As the 2009–10 season
began, the Jazz stumbled a bit early, starting off 19-17. Several trades were made by the team during the season, one that sent promising rookie Eric Maynor
and the contract of the retired Matt Harpring
to the Oklahoma City Thunder
. Another sent starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer
to the Memphis Grizzlies
at midseason, a trade which was openly criticized by Deron Williams
. The Brewer trade cleared the way for Wesley Matthews
to take over the starting shooting guard spot. Also, Deron Williams was selected to play in the All-Star Game for the first time, and after a controversial offseason, Carlos Boozer played better than the year prior, averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, and missed only 4 games to injuries. He even suggested that he would be happy to stay with Utah long-term. After returning from an early season injury, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three-point field goal percentage in a season.
In a tight Western Conference, the Jazz finished the season 53-29 and lost the division in a tiebreaker with the Denver Nuggets
, ending with the #5 seed, matched up with the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Kirilenko, who had missed 13 of the last 15 games of the regular season due to a nagging calf muscle strain, re-aggravated the injury the day before the first game of the playoffs and missed the first round, while Mehmet Okur tore his Achilles tendon
in the first game and missed the rest of the playoffs. Despite the injuries, the Jazz played well enough to defeat Denver 4-2 in the series. The Jazz were then eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the third year in a row, being swept 4-0 (the first 4 game sweep in Jazz history).
with the #9 overall pick, and Jeremy Evans
in the second round.
Carlos Boozer
agreed to a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Chicago Bulls
in free agency on July 7, 2010. The Jazz turned the transaction into a sign-and-trade one day later, receiving a trade exception worth around $13 million in return from Chicago. Kyle Korver
also agreed to sign with the Chicago Bulls
, two days later, on July 9, 2010. Terms were not announced, but multiple reports have his deal for 3 years, $13 million.
Wesley Matthews
signed a 5-year $33 million dollar offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers, as a restricted free agent, on July 10, 2010. The Jazz declined to match the offer, allowing Portland to acquire Matthews.
Less than a week after the Boozer defection, on July 13, 2010, the team traded Kosta Koufos
and 2 future first round picks to Minnesota
for Forward/Center Al Jefferson
, using the trade exception from the Carlos Boozer deal to receive Jefferson's contract without exceeding the salary cap.
Raja Bell
was added also, to provide backcourt help after the losses of Korver and Matthews. He was signed to a 3-year, $10 million contract.
On June 15, 2010, the Jazz unveiled a new color scheme and logo which represented a return to the old 'music note' logo. The team unveiled new uniforms on August 16.
The Jazz tendered restricted free-agent center Kyrylo Fesenko a $1 million qualifying offer in June 2010. The offer entitled Utah to match any offer that Fesenko received from another team, whether signed or not. Fesenko signed the offer on September 27, 2010, the day before training camp began.
On the eve of training camp, the Jazz added two more players, center Francisco Elson
and guard Earl Watson
to shore up the roster for the 2010-11 season.
The 2010-11 season began for the Jazz on a positive note, as the team went undefeated (8-0) in the preseason, and in mid-January, they were 27-13 and seemed well on their way to another winning season, had that pace continued. However, over the next 14 games, Utah went 4-10. On February 10, 2011, with the team record at 31-23 after a loss to the Chicago Bulls
, head coach Jerry Sloan resigned, along with assistant Phil Johnson. Another of Sloan's assistants, Tyrone Corbin
, was named the new head coach, while Scott Layden, the other assistant, remained as well. A week later, the Jazz hired former Jazz player Jeff Hornacek as an assistant coach.
On February 23, 2011, the Jazz traded star player Deron Williams
to the New Jersey Nets for two 1st round draft picks (New Jersey's 2011 and Golden State's conditional 2012) and players, Derrick Favors
and Devin Harris
. It was rumored that Williams got into a shouting match with head coach Jerry Sloan during a game against the Chicago Bulls, which preceded Sloan's resignation and eventually, the Jazz's decision to trade their star player.
While Williams was under contract through with a player option worth $17.7 million for , Jazz chief executive officer Greg Miller did not believe they would be able to re-sign Williams. "And while I never saw any indication that he wouldn’t re-sign with us, I never saw any indication he would,” said Miller.
The remainder of the season saw the Jazz continue to struggle, finishing with a 39-43 record, 11th in the Western Conference, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06.
Houston (7) - 1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008
Los Angeles Lakers (6) - 1988, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010
Portland (5) - 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000
Houston won two NBA Championships (1994, 1995) while defeating Utah along the way. Utah advanced to the NBA Finals both times that they defeated the Lakers, while LA has advanced to the Finals each year they defeated Utah in a series, winning NBA Championships in 1988, 2009, and 2010. Portland advanced to the NBA Finals in 1992 after defeating Utah as well.
and Carlos Boozer
were selected for the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics
in China. The Jazz were the only team in the NBA with two players on the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad. The "Redeem Team" was awarded the gold medal.
Williams and Boozer joined former Jazz players John Stockton
and Karl Malone
as the only Jazzmen to be selected to play for the U.S. team. Stockton and Malone won gold medals at the 1992
and 1996
Olympic games. Andrei Kirilenko
represented his home country of Russia
at the 2008 games.
and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers
.
In Salt Lake City
to Salt Lake City
in 1979, the Utah Jazz have worn several uniforms throughout their franchise history. From 1979–1996, the Jazz' home uniforms consisted of the "basketball forming J music note to write on Jazz" logo on the center chest, with purple numbers. The only modification to this uniform was the word "Utah" being added to the center chest logo in 1986. The road uniforms were purple with the 'J-note' logo and numbers in white. From 1981–1984, the Jazz' road uniforms were dark green, with the aforementioned Jazz logo on the center chest and gold numbers. For the 1984–85 season, the road uniforms were changed back to purple, this time with gold numbers and white trim. These uniforms were worn until the 1995–96 season
.
For the 1996–97 season, the Jazz drastically updated their logos and uniforms, with a new color scheme of purple, copper and turquoise. Their new uniform set featured a silhouette of the Wasatch Range
on the center chest, with a stylish new Jazz script, and purple & turquoise details. On the road purple jersey, the white mountain range gradually fades to purple just above the numbers, which are white, with copper interior trim and teal outlining. On the home white jersey, the numbers are purple, with white interior trim and teal outlining. The Jazz wore these jerseys until the 2003–04 season.
The Jazz also introduced an alternate black jersey in the 1998–99 season, with the Jazz script on the center chest, but without the Wasatch Range silhouette. On this jersey, both the Jazz script and numbers are white, with purple interior trim and copper outlining, and copper side panels. These jerseys were worn until the 2003–04 season.
In the 2004–05 season, the Jazz once again updated their color scheme, logos and uniforms. The new color scheme, which the team used until the end of the 2009–10 season
, consisted of navy blue, powder blue, silver & purple, though the latter color was only used on the primary logo and alternate logo. The team logo remained the same, for the exception of the new color variation. The new home uniform consisted of an updated "Jazz" script on the center chest in navy blue, with navy numbers, both of which had silver interior trim and powder blue outlining. The new road uniform was navy blue, with a "Utah" script in powder blue on the center chest and powder blue numbers, both of which had silver outlining and white interior trim.
In the 2006–07 season, the Jazz introduced a new alternate powder blue uniform. This uniform, which the team used until the end of the 2009–10 season, featured a Jazz script identical to the team logo and navy blue numbers below the script, also with silver and white trim. The nameplate on the back of the jersey was navy blue.
On June 15, 2010, the Jazz unveiled a new logo and color scheme on the team's official website. For the 2010–11 season
, the Jazz reverted to the team's original music note logo (without the word Utah), with a new color scheme of navy blue, gold, dark green & gray. The new uniform set, which was unveiled on August 16, 2010, features a design nearly identical to the team's aforementioned 1980s uniform designs, with the following differences: navy blue replacing purple on the road jerseys, dark green numerals on the home white jerseys, a white Jazz logo script on the road jerseys and side panels on both the home and away jerseys. The new uniforms were a combination of both the old and new styles, with navy blue retained from the most recent color scheme, but the now-famous 'J-note' logo and gold and green were revived.
NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA Defesive Player of the Year
NBA Coach of the Year
All-NBA First Team
All-NBA Second Team
All-NBA Third Team
NBA All-Defensive First Team
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
NBA Rookie First Team
NBA Rookie Second Team
and KBEE
.
The Jazz signed a new exclusive 12 year agreement with Root Sports Utah
on October 20, 2009, ending the team's broadcasts on KJZZ-TV
.
The Current team's announcers are:
Retired Announcers:
!Years
!Coach
!Record
|-
|1974–1975
|Scotty Robertson
|1–14
|-
|1974–1975
|Elgin Baylor
|0–1
|-
|1974–1977
|Bill Van Breda Kolff
|74–100
|-
|1977–1979
|Elgin Baylor
|86–134
|-
|1979–1981
|Tom Nissalke
|60–124
|-
|1981–1988
|Frank Layden
|277–294
|-
|1988–2011
|Jerry Sloan
|1221-758
|-
|2011–Present
|Tyrone Corbin
|8-20
|-
|1974–Present
|Total
|1727–1445
|}
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division
Northwest Division (NBA)
The Northwest Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Utah JazzThe division was...
of the Western Conference
Western Conference (NBA)
Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA). The franchise began in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz, in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, but the team moved to Utah in 1979 after just five seasons.
The Jazz were one of the most unsuccessful teams in the league in their early years, and it would be 10 years before they made a playoff appearance (in 1984). They would not miss the playoffs again until 2004. During the late 1980s, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
and Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
arose as the franchise players for the team, and formed one of the most famed point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
–power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
duos in NBA history. Led by coach Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
, who took over for Frank Layden
Frank Layden
Frank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team...
in 1988, they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, culminating in two NBA Finals appearances in 1997
1997 NBA Finals
The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage...
and 1998
1998 NBA Finals
The 1998 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season. The Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference played against the Utah Jazz of the Western Conference, with the Jazz holding home-court advantage with the first 2 games in Salt Lake City...
, where they lost both times to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, led by Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
. Both Stockton and Malone moved on in 2003. After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons the Jazz returned to prominence under the on-court leadership of point guard Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
. However, partway through the 2010-11 season, the Jazz began a restructuring after the retirement of Jerry Sloan and trade of Deron Williams. As of 2011, the Jazz are the only team in the "Big Four" sports leagues located in the state of Utah.
1974-1979: Pete Maravich and the early years in New Orleans
In 1974, the Jazz franchise began in New Orleans as the 18th team to enter the NBA. The team's first major move was to trade for star player Pete MaravichPete Maravich
Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
(who had played collegiately at LSU) from the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
for two first-round draft picks, three second-round picks, and one third-round pick over the next three years. Although he was considered one of the most entertaining players in the league and won the scoring championship in 1977 with 31.1 points per game, the Jazz' best record while in New Orleans was 39–43 in the 1977–78 season. Maravich struggled with knee injuries from that season onward.
Venue issues were a continual problem for the team while on New Orleans. In the Jazz's first season, when they played in the Loyola University
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
Fieldhouse
Loyola Field House
Loyola Field House was an indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosted the ABA's New Orleans Buccaneers, and the NBA's New Orleans Jazz. The arena held 6,500 people....
, the basketball court was raised so high that the players' association made the team put a net around the court so that players wouldn't fall off of the court and into the stands. Later, they played games in the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
, but things were no better due to high demand for the stadium, onerous lease terms and Maravich's constant knee problems. They also faced the prospect of spending a whole month on the road each year due to Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
festivities. Years later, founding owner Sam Battisone claimed that there was no contingency plan in case the Jazz ever made the playoffs. However, the Superdome's manager at the time, Bill Curl, said that the stadium's management always submitted a list of potential playoff dates to the Jazz management, but these letters were never answered.
After what turned out to be their final season in the Big Easy, the Jazz were dealt one final humiliation when the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
selected Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft
1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. The pick would have belonged to the Jazz had they not traded it to Los Angeles to acquire Gail Goodrich
Gail Goodrich
Gail Charles Goodrich Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He is best-known for scoring a then record 42 points in the 1965 NCAA championship game vs. Michigan, and his part in the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971–72 season...
two years earlier. To make matters worse, the Jazz had given up the rights to Moses Malone
Moses Malone
Moses Eugene Malone is a retired American Hall of Fame basketball player who starred in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association...
in order to regain one of the three first-round picks used for the Goodrich trade; the combination of Magic and Moses blossoming into Hall of Famers and Goodrich's ineffective, injury-ruined few years in New Orleans made this one of the most lopsided transactions in NBA history.
1979–84: The move to Utah and arrival of Coach Frank Layden
Despite being barely competitive, the Jazz drew fairly well during their first five years. However, by 1979 the franchise was sinking financially. Barry Mendelson, the team's executive vice president for most of the team's early years, said one factor in the team's financial troubles was an 11 percent amusement tax, the highest in the nation at the time. The team also couldn't attract much local corporate support—an important factor even in those days—or local investors.Battisone concluded that the franchise could not be viable in New Orleans and decided to move elsewhere. After scouting out several new homes, he decided to move to Salt Lake City, even though it was a smaller market than New Orleans at the time. However, Salt Lake City had proven it could support a pro basketball team when it played host to the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
from 1970 to 1976. The Stars had been extremely popular in the city, but their finances inexplicably collapsed in their last two seasons, and they folded in December 1975 after playing only 16 games of the ABA's final season. Although Salt Lake City was not known for its jazz culture, the team decided to keep the name, as well as the team's original colors of green, purple and gold (the colors of Mardi Gras). Some were offended by the Jazz keeping the franchise name after moving from New Orleans, citing it as a metaphor for the theft of Jazz from its cultural roots.
The Jazz's attendance actually declined slightly after the team's move from New Orleans to Utah, due to a late approval for the move (June 1979) and poor marketing in the Salt Lake City area. The team's management made the first of several moves in 1979, bringing high-scoring forward Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
to Utah in exchange for Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood
Spencer Haywood is a retired American professional basketball player.- High school :In 1964, Haywood moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he attended Pershing High School...
. Dantley averaged 28.0 points per game during the 1979-80 season, allowing the team to waive Pete Maravich
Pete Maravich
Peter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
early in the year. The team struggled to a 24-58 mark, but was rewarded with the 2nd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, which they used to pick Darrell Griffith of Louisville, another piece of the rebuilding puzzle.
During the 1980-81 NBA Season, the club struggled financially as well as on the court. Despite having perennial All-Star Dantley, a 20 point per game scorer in Griffith; as well as emerging point guard Rickey Green
Rickey Green
Rickey Green is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. The 6'0" and 170 lb point guard from the University of Michigan and Vincennes University was selected with the 16th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, and competed in 14 seasons, playing for the Golden State Warriors, Detroit...
, the Jazz were unable to produce a winning team, going 28-54.
Tom Nissalke
Tom Nissalke
Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association...
departed as coach after the team started the 1981-82 season with an 8-12 record, and General Manager Frank Layden
Frank Layden
Frank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team...
replaced him. Layden's coaching wasn't an improvement initially, as the Jazz went 17-45 the rest of that season to finish 25-57.
The 1982 NBA Draft
1982 NBA Draft
The 1982 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1982 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.-Key:-Draft:-Other picks:-External links:**...
saw the Jazz pick forward Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, who was reluctant to play for them. Combined with the cash-strapped ownership, this produced another trade to improve cash flow - Atlanta gave up guards John Drew
John Drew (basketball)
John Edward Drew is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'6" guard/forward from Gardner-Webb University, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was one of the earliest casualties of the drug policy instituted by commissioner David Stern.- Amateur...
and Freeman Williams, plus $1 million in cash, for the rights to Wilkins.
For the 1982-83 season, Dantley ended up missing 60 of 82 games due to injury, depriving the team of its leading scorer for much of the season. Newcomer John Drew also missed time, playing in only 44 games. The Jazz ended up being led by Darrell Griffith (22.2 ppg), Rickey Green (14.3 ppg), and Danny Schayes
Danny Schayes
Daniel Leslie "Danny" Schayes is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1981 until 1999. At 6'11" and 235 pounds, he played at center...
(12.4 ppg). A rookie 7'4" center, Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton (basketball)
Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
, began manning the post as well. The team finished 30-52, still out of the playoffs, but an improvement over recent years.
During the 1983 NBA Draft, the Jazz used their first-round pick, #7 overall, to choose Thurl Bailey, of the 1983 NCAA Champion North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
Wolfpack, and later took Bobby Hansen of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, in the third round, 54th overall.
1983-84 opened as a season of uncertainty. The team was losing money, and management was crafting stunts, such as playing games in Las Vegas, to help the team be more profitable. The team was rumored to be moving from Utah also, due to the small market and ownership's struggles financially. However, the team's fortunes on the court continued to improve, with a healthy Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
, Jeff Wilkins
Jeff Wilkins
For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins .Jeffrey Allen Wilkins nicknamed "Money" is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams. He played college football at Youngstown State University...
, and rookie Thurl Bailey
Thurl Bailey
Thurl Lee Bailey is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA whose career spanned from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.- Basketball career :...
at the forward positions, Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton (basketball)
Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
& Rich Kelley
Rich Kelley
Richard Ryland Kelley is a retired American basketball player.A center/power forward, a graduate of Woodside High School, Kelley played college basketball for Stanford....
jointly manning the post, and Rickey Green
Rickey Green
Rickey Green is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. The 6'0" and 170 lb point guard from the University of Michigan and Vincennes University was selected with the 16th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, and competed in 14 seasons, playing for the Golden State Warriors, Detroit...
with Darrell Griffith at the guards, and John Drew
John Drew (basketball)
John Edward Drew is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'6" guard/forward from Gardner-Webb University, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was one of the earliest casualties of the drug policy instituted by commissioner David Stern.- Amateur...
providing 17 points per night off the bench. The team went 45-37 and won the Midwest Division, their first division title in team history.
They advanced to the NBA Playoffs, defeating the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
3-2 in the first round, and moved on to play the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Despite having homecourt in the best of seven series, the Jazz lost to the more experienced Suns, 4-2.
Jazz fans were not happy a month later, when the team picked an unknown point guard in the 1st round of the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, John Stockton of Gonzaga. The Jazz fans on hand for the draft party booed the selection.
1984-1988: "Stockton to Malone" is born
The 1984-85 season saw the emergence of Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)
Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
as a defensive force. averaging 5.56 blocks per game along with 9.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
. On the downside, John Drew played only 19 games on the season, depriving the team of their high-scoring sixth man. Despite that, the Jazz returned to the playoffs, facing off with the Houston Rockets and their All-Star Centers, Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
and Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
. The Jazz prevailed in the series, 3-2, advancing to the second round to face the high-scoring Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. Utah fell to Denver, 4-1 in the second-round series.
The team's perennial financial woes and instability were somewhat stabilized during April 1985, when Larry H. Miller
Larry H. Miller
Lawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
bought 50% of the team for $8 million, and became a co-owner with Sam Battistone, who had been seeking to move the team. In the 1985 NBA Draft
1985 NBA Draft
The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. A total of 162 players were selected over 7 rounds by the league's 23 teams. The New York Knicks were awarded the first overall pick, by winning the first-ever NBA Draft Lottery, which was held...
the team added Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
from Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
, a 6'9" 250 pound power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
.
Malone made an immediate impact in the , averaging 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per outing, supplementing Dantley in the frontcourt. However, starting guard Darrell Griffith missed the entire season with a stress fracture, and the team hovered around the .500 mark most of the year. In the 1985-86 postseason, the Jazz faltered in the first round against the Dallas Mavericks, losing the series 3-1.
During the offseason in 1986, co-owner Sam Battistone was approached to sell the team to Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner, who would have moved the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Larry Miller didn't want to sell the team, but due to contractual language in his agreement with Battistone, could have been bought out by the new owners if he refused to sell. Offers went as high as $28 million for the team as a whole during this process (the Jazz were valued at $16 million less than a year earlier when Miller purchased half for $8 million). Miller stepped in at the last minute and purchased the remaining 50% of the team for $14 million, buying out the original contract with Battistone, and kept the team in Utah. Wolfenson and Ratner later became the founders of the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
expansion franchise which, coincidentally, was almost sold and moved to New Orleans in 1994.
The 1986-87 season was one of change. Adrian Dantley
Adrian Dantley
Adrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
, the team's star player that had carried them through the early years in Utah, was traded to Detroit for Kelly Tripucka
Kelly Tripucka
Peter Kelly Tripucka is a former American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association from 1981 to 1991. During his ten seasons in the league, he played for the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets...
, who ended up splitting time with Thurl Bailey. Darrell Griffith, back from injuries that caused him to miss the 1985-86 season, lost his starting spot at guard to Bobby Hansen. John Stockton was warranting more time behind, and in front of, Rickey Green at the point guard position. Amidst all these changes, the team went 44-38 on the season, and lost to the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round of the playoffs.
For the 1987-88 Season, John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
took over for Rickey Green
Rickey Green
Rickey Green is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. The 6'0" and 170 lb point guard from the University of Michigan and Vincennes University was selected with the 16th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, and competed in 14 seasons, playing for the Golden State Warriors, Detroit...
as the starting point guard, and Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
began establishing himself as one of the better power forwards in the league. That year, the team finished 47-35 and defeated Portland, 3-1, in the first round, earning a second round matchup with the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. After LA took Game 1 at home, the Jazz surprised the Lakers by winning Game 2 in LA, 101-97, and took the lead in the series 2-1 with a Game 3 win in Salt Lake City. The Jazz lost Games 4 and 5, but fought back to demolish the Lakers in Game 6, 108-80, tying the series 3-3. In the deciding Game 7, the Lakers prevailed, 109-98. But the Jazz had shown they were no longer the pushover of their early days.
1988–90: Jerry Sloan Era Begins
During the 1988–89 season, Frank Layden stepped down as head coach of the Jazz after the first 17 games of the season, and was replaced by Jerry SloanJerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
. The Jazz won 51 games and the Midwest Division title as the team grew better overall. Malone and Stockton, as well as Mark Eaton, were All-Stars. Eaton won Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, and it appeared the Jazz were ready to take the next step in the post-season, after having pushed the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
to seven games in the 2nd round the previous year. However, in a playoff upset, the #7 seeded Golden State Warriors defeated the #2 seeded Jazz, 3 games to 0, in the first round, ending the Jazz's season abruptly.
In the following year, 1989–90, the Jazz made some changes, with Bobby Hansen supplanting Darrell Griffith as the starting guard alongside Stockton. Also Thurl Bailey, relied on for 19 points per game the previous year, had his role reduced somewhat, as rookie forward–guard Blue Edwards played a prominent role in the front court. Mike Brown, a backup forward–center, spelled Mark Eaton more frequently. The results were the best win–loss mark in team history, with the Jazz going 55–27 and finishing second in the division to the San Antonio Spurs (56–26). Karl Malone had his best season statistically, averaging 31.0 points and 11.1 rebounds. John Stockton averaged 17.2 points and 14.5 assists per outing, both career highs, with the assist total and average leading the NBA that year. In the playoffs, they were matched up with the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, led by All-Stars Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson
Kevin Maurice Johnson is the current mayor of Sacramento, California. He is Sacramento's first African American mayor. Prior to entering politics, Johnson was a basketball player in the NBA, playing point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns...
. Phoenix defeated the Jazz 3–2 in the first round. Once again, the Jazz were left with questions as to how they could do so well in the regular season but fail to advance in the playoffs.
1990 to 1996: Working towards contention
For the 1990–91 season, the Jazz made another move to improve the team, with a three-way trade being made. Shooting Guard Jeff MaloneJeff Malone
Jeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Mississippi State University, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets of the NBA, where he was an NBA All-Star twice, playing the shooting guard position...
was brought to Utah from the Washington Bullets, while Eric Leckner
Eric Leckner
Eric Charles Leckner is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round of the 1988 NBA Draft...
and Bobby Hansen were sent from Utah to the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, and Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison
Pervis Ellison is a former college and professional NBA basketball player.Ellison was nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his play with the University of Louisville. At 6 ft 9 in and 242 lb, he started all four years as the center under coach Denny Crum...
ended up going from Sacramento to Washington.
The Jazz began the season 22-15, then found their stride, going 27-8 during January and February, with new addition Jeff Malone
Jeff Malone
Jeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Mississippi State University, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets of the NBA, where he was an NBA All-Star twice, playing the shooting guard position...
averaging 18.6 points that year, giving the Jazz three strong scoring options (Karl Malone, Jeff Malone, and John Stockton – 64.8 of the team's 104 points per game). The Jazz finished 54-28, 2nd in the division to San Antonio by 1 game, similar to their division finish the prior year. In the playoffs, they met the Phoenix Suns for the second year in a row, but this time the Jazz were ready. Game 1 was a blowout in Utah's favor, on Phoenix's home floor, 129-90, setting the tone for the series, as Utah eliminated the Suns 3-1, earning a second round match-up with the Portland Trail Blazers, the defending Western Conference Champions. The Jazz played well, keeping close in most of the games, but ultimately lost the series 4–1 to the deeper and more experienced Blazers.
The 1991-92 season proved to be the most successful in history, to that time, for the Jazz. They moved to a newly built home, the Delta Center, a state-of-the art arena that seated 19,911 fans. This was a huge improvement over the Salt Palace, which seated just over 12,000 and lacked luxury suites and retail space. Early in the year, a trade brought Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Kennedy Corbin is the head coach of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He was installed as head coach on February 10, 2011 following the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan....
, a tough, defensive forward, from Minnesota in exchange for fan-favorite Thurl Bailey
Thurl Bailey
Thurl Lee Bailey is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA whose career spanned from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.- Basketball career :...
.
The Jazz went 55-27 over the season, winning the Midwest Division Title for the first time since 1989, and looked to advance farther in the postseason. In the playoffs, the Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
3-2 in the first round, then took care of the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in the second round, 4-1, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time, where they faced the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. Once again, Portland proved to be the superior team, defeating the Jazz 4-2 in the series and denying them a trip to the NBA Finals.
The 1992-93 season proved to be a disappointment compared with the years before, with a 47-35 mark and 3rd place in the division. The center position, manned capably by Mark Eaton for most of the past decade, became suspect as Eaton struggled with injuries and age. The bright spot was the hosting of the All-Star Game and the surrounding events of All-Star Weekend. The Jazz had a disappointing run in the playoffs
1993 NBA Playoffs
The 1993 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1992-1993 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their third consecutive championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns four...
as well, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round, 3-2. During the postseason, the team addressed the center position by acquiring 7'0" Felton Spencer from Minnesota, in return for backup center Mike Brown.
During the 1993–94 season, the Jazz traded Jeff Malone
Jeff Malone
Jeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Mississippi State University, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets of the NBA, where he was an NBA All-Star twice, playing the shooting guard position...
to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
for shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
Jeff Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek
Jeffrey John Hornacek is a retired American basketball player who played at the shooting guard position in the NBA from 1986–2000.-Elementary and high school:...
. Hornacek meshed well with Stockton, and the Jazz improved to a 53–29 record for the year. In the playoffs, they faced San Antonio in the first round, shutting down NBA scoring leader David Robinson
David Robinson (basketball)
David Maurice Robinson is a retired American NBA basketball player, who played center for the San Antonio Spurs for his entire NBA career. Based on his prior service as an officer in the United States Navy, Robinson earned the nickname "The Admiral". He and teammate power forward Tim Duncan were...
in the series. Robinson had averaged 29.8 points on 50% shooting during the regular season, numbers that dropped to 20.0 and 41% against Utah. The Jazz then fought off a determined Denver Nuggets
1993–94 Denver Nuggets season
The Nuggets posted a 42-40 record and made the playoffs for the first time in 4 years. The Nuggets qualified for the playoffs as the 8th seed. The first round saw the Nuggets matched up with the Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics had posted a league best 63-19 record. The Nuggets lost the first two...
team 4–3 in the conference semi-finals (almost blowing a 3–0 series lead in the process), to advance to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion Houston Rockets
1993–94 Houston Rockets season
The Houston Rockets won their first NBA title in franchise history. They defeated the New York Knicks in the 1994 NBA Finals to win the championship.-NBA Draft:-Depth chart:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-1994 NBA Finals Roster:...
4–1.
In the 1994–95 season, the Jazz had significant depth and talent at their disposal and were expected to make a serious run for the championship. However, they lost starting center Felton Spencer 34 games into the season with a ruptured Achilles Tendon. The Jazz were deep enough to still finish with a 60–22 record. However, the Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets
1994–95 Houston Rockets season
The Houston Rockets won their second NBA title in franchise history.-NBA Draft:-Depth chart:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-1995 NBA Finals Roster:Head Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich Hakeem Olajuwon |Clyde Drexler |Kenny Smith |...
in the first round of the playoffs
1995 NBA Playoffs
The 1995 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1994-1995 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic...
, 3-2.
Big man Greg Ostertag
Greg Ostertag
Gregory Donovan Ostertag is a retired American basketball player who spent most of his professional career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association.- High School and College :...
was added to the team for the 1995–96 season. The Jazz went 55-27, and reached the conference finals for the third time in history, nearly overcoming a 3–1 series deficit, but eventually losing to the Seattle SuperSonics 4–3.
1996–2003: The NBA Finals and the final years of Stockton and Malone
In the next two seasons, the Jazz were finally able to capitalize on their regular season success. In 1996–97, the Jazz1996–97 Utah Jazz season
The 1996–97 Utah Jazz season saw the Jazz qualify for the NBA Finals.-Draft picks:-Depth chart:-Season standings:-Game log:-Playoffs:*Won NBA Western Conference Finals versus Houston Rockets...
had their best record in franchise history at 64–18, winning the Midwest Division and finishing with the best overall record in the Western Conference. The team was made up of the mainstays, Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
, and Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek
Jeffrey John Hornacek is a retired American basketball player who played at the shooting guard position in the NBA from 1986–2000.-Elementary and high school:...
, as well as Bryon Russell
Bryon Russell
Bryon Demetrise Russell is an American basketball player. During an NBA career that spanned from 1993 to 2006, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers and was a key member of the Utah Jazz, helping them reach back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 1997 and 1998...
, Antoine Carr
Antoine Carr
Antoine Labotte Carr is a retired American basketball player. A 16-year NBA journeyman, he was known for the goggles he wore onto the court.-Early life:Antoine Carr was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...
, Howard Eisley
Howard Eisley
Howard Jonathan Eisley is a retired American professional basketball point guard and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves...
, and Shandon Anderson
Shandon Anderson
Shandon Rodriguez Anderson is an American former professional basketball forward and guard who played in the National Basketball Association from 1996 to 2006...
. Malone won his first NBA MVP
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1955–56 NBA season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement...
for the 1996-97 regular season, averaging 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
The Jazz reached the NBA Finals
1997 NBA Finals
The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage...
for the first time after beating the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
3–0, Los Angeles Lakers
1996–97 Los Angeles Lakers season
The 1996–97 Los Angeles Lakers season was the highlight of signing Shaquille O'Neal to a multi-year deal.-NBA Draft:Before he was chosen as the 13th overall draft pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, the 17-year-old Bryant had made a lasting impression on then-Lakers general manager Jerry West,...
4–1, and Houston Rockets
1996–97 Houston Rockets season
The 1996–97 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets acquire Charles Barkley.-Draft picks:-Regular season:In his first game with the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley would get thirty three rebounds, a career high.-Season standings:-Game log:...
4-2. The Jazz then met Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and the Chicago Bulls
1996–97 Chicago Bulls season
The Chicago Bulls repeated as NBA World Champions. The Bulls would go on to beat the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Finals. The team was led by Michael Jordan, rebound ace Dennis Rodman and perennial all star small forward Scottie Pippen. Other notable players on the club's roster that year were...
in the finals, losing to the Bulls 4–2, with the last two games being decided in the final seconds (scores of 90–88 and 90–86).
During the offseason, the Jazz made no significant changes to their roster. As the 1997–98 season neared, the Jazz were expected to be contenders for the championship once again. However, Stockton suffered a serious knee injury
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
before the season began, and missed the first 18 games, in which the Jazz went 11-7. Once Stockton returned, the team went 51-13 the rest of the way, mirroring their winning pace of the year before, to finish at 62–20 for the season, winning the Midwest Division and also homecourt advantage for the playoffs
1998 NBA Playoffs
The 1998 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997-98 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their sixth championship of the decade by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz four...
.
In the playoffs, the Jazz beat the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
3–2, and the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
4–1, to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight year. Utah, with a veteran core of Stockton, Malone and Hornacek (averaging 34.3 years of age), were facing a Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
squad led by superstar Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
, guards Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones (basketball)
Eddie Charles Jones is an American former professional basketball player. Jones played college basketball at Temple University and was the 1993–94 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year...
, Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel
Nickey Maxwell "Nick" Van Exel is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks...
, and a young Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
. The Jazz set the tone for the series with a resounding win in Game 1, 112-77. Game 2 was much closer, a 99-95 Jazz victory, and Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles were decided by an average of 7.5 points. However, the Jazz prevailed in a sweep, 4-0, giving the Los Angeles their first series sweep since the 1989 NBA Finals, and earning a 2nd straight trip to the NBA Finals.
In the 1998 NBA Finals
1998 NBA Finals
The 1998 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season. The Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference played against the Utah Jazz of the Western Conference, with the Jazz holding home-court advantage with the first 2 games in Salt Lake City...
, the Jazz took Game 1 at home, 88–85 in overtime. However, the Bulls overcame a slow start to win Game 2, 93–88, easily took Game 3, 96–54 and won a closer Game 4, 86–82 to lead 3–1 in the series. The Jazz fought back to win Game 5 on the road, 83–81, to trail 3-2 in the series, with Game 6 (and a Game 7 if needed) in Salt Lake City. The Jazz held a lead in most of Game 6, but the Bulls rallied, and in the last seconds of the game, Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
made a jump shot to win the game, 87–86, and the series for Chicago, 4-2.
In the 1999 season, shortened to 50 games due to a lockout
1998–99 NBA lockout
The 1998–99 NBA lockout was the third lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . It lasted from July 1, 1998 to January 20, 1999, and forced the 1998–99 season to be shortened to 50 games per team and that season's All-Star Game to be canceled...
, the Jazz finished the season 37–13, tied with the Spurs for the best record in the league. They defeated the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in five games in the first round of the playoffs
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
. However, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. Despite yet another disappointment, Malone was awarded his second MVP.
During the 1999–00 season, the Jazz finished 55–27 and won the Midwest Division but once again struggled in the postseason
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...
, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
, again during the second round. During the offseason, Hornacek retired and Howard Eisley
Howard Eisley
Howard Jonathan Eisley is a retired American professional basketball point guard and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves...
was traded in a four-team deal that brought in Donyell Marshall
Donyell Marshall
Donyell Lamar Marshall is a retired American professional basketball player, at the small forward and power forward positions. During his extensive NBA career, he played with eight different teams...
. They selected promising high school basketball star DeShawn Stevenson
DeShawn Stevenson
DeShawn Stevenson is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. Before his NBA career, he originally committed to play at the University of Kansas, but decided to enter the NBA directly from Washington Union High School in his hometown of...
in the first round of the NBA Draft
2000 NBA Draft
The 2000 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2000 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until 2011, it was the last draft held at the home arena of an NBA team; the following and subsequent drafts have all taken place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. This draft is...
.
In the 2000–01 season, they went 53–29, but they faltered in the playoffs, surrendering a 2–0 series lead in the first round of the playoffs
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
to the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
, to lose the series 3-2. It was their earliest exit from the playoffs since the 1994-95 season.
In the 2001–02 season, Andrei Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko (basketball)
Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...
made his rookie debut, averaging 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.91 blocks per game. The team started slowly, going 16-15 over the first two months, and finished 12-13 to go 44-38 overall. They lost to the Sacramento Kings
2001–02 Sacramento Kings season
-NBA Draft:-Depth chart:-Player stats:Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average-Playoffs:...
3–1 in the first round of the playoffs
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
.
Prior to the 2002–03, Marshall and Russell moved on to other teams. Forward Matt Harpring
Matt Harpring
Matthew Joseph Harpring is an American former professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the NBA. He is currently the color commentator for the Utah Jazz.-College career:...
was brought over from the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. He took over the starting forward spot next to Malone and averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, the best numbers of his career. The Jazz approached 50 wins going into the playoffs
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
, ultimately going 47–35. They faced the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
once again, losing in a seven-game first round series, 4–1.
After the season, the end of an era came when Stockton retired, and Malone left as a free agent to join the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
2003–06: Rebuilding
With their two franchise cornerstones in Malone and Stockton gone, the team was suddenly lacking a foundation going into the 2003–04 season. They were expected to finish near the bottom of the NBA by several NBA preview magazines, including Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. Surprisingly, the Jazz finished with a 42–40 record. The team featured several unheralded players who emerged into key contributors, including Kirilenko, Raja Bell
Raja Bell
Raja Bell is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Utah Jazz of the NBA. Bell is known for his three-point shooting and intense defense.- Biography :Bell was born in Saint Croix, in the U.S...
, and Carlos Arroyo
Carlos Arroyo
Carlos Alberto Arroyo Bermúdez is a Puerto Rican professional basketball point guard who last played for the Boston Celtics. Arroyo is the fifth player from Puerto Rico to play in the NBA...
. In particular, Kirilenko demonstrated versatility on both offense and defense and earned a spot in the All-Star Game
2004 NBA All-Star Game
The 2004 National Basketball Association All-Star Game was played on February 15, 2004 in front of an attendance of 19,662 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers...
. The Jazz missed the playoffs by just one game to the Denver Nuggets
2003–04 Denver Nuggets season
-NBA Draft:-Roster:-Standings:-Regular season:-Player stats:Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average-References:*...
, ending their streak of 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
finished second in the voting for the NBA Coach of the Year Award
NBA Coach of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
, losing to Hubie Brown
Hubie Brown
Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown is a retired American basketball coach and a current television analyst. Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, the honors being separated by 26 years...
of the Memphis Grizzlies.
During the offseason, the team made moves to bolster their roster, acquiring Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
and Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Okur
Mehmet Murat Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He is also under contract with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, and can return to that team when the 2011 NBA lockout ends...
as free agents and re-signing Carlos Arroyo and Gordan Giricek
Gordan Giricek
Gordan Giriček is a Croatian professional basketball player who is currently playing for Cibona Zagreb. Previously, he played in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Phoenix Suns...
to extensions.
The 2004-05 season was marked by a series of injuries, first to Arroyo and Raul Lopez
Raül López
Raül López i Molist is a Spanish professional basketball player. He has previously played for the NBA's Utah Jazz. López is a native of Vic, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. At 6 ft 0 in tall, he plays the point guard position...
, and later to Boozer and Kirilenko, which were a large part of the team's fall to the bottom of the division. When healthy, Boozer filled the power forward position ably, averaging 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in 51 games. The Jazz ended the 2004–05 season with a record of 26–56, their worst since the 1981-82 season.
In the summer of 2005, the Jazz continued to shape their roster by trading three draft picks in order to acquire the #3 pick overall, which they used to select point guard Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
of the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
. Other transactions included Raja Bell leaving the team for the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, the Jazz re-obtaining center Greg Ostertag from the Kings, and oft-injured point guard Raul Lopez
Raül López
Raül López i Molist is a Spanish professional basketball player. He has previously played for the NBA's Utah Jazz. López is a native of Vic, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. At 6 ft 0 in tall, he plays the point guard position...
being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
.
The 2005–06 season was injury-plagued before it even started; Boozer missed the first 49 games and Gordan Giricek
Gordan Giricek
Gordan Giriček is a Croatian professional basketball player who is currently playing for Cibona Zagreb. Previously, he played in the NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Phoenix Suns...
and Kirilenko both missed significant time due to injuries. Okur and Kirilenko, however, showed consistently good play, while Williams, despite a mid-season slump, did not disappoint. However, team owner Larry Miller
Larry H. Miller
Lawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
continually expressed his displeasure with the team's effort during that year. The Jazz stayed in the playoff race until the third-to-last game, when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks
2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season
The 2005–06 Dallas Mavericks season was the 26th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association .-Draft picks:The Mavericks did not have any selections in the 2005 NBA Draft.-Depth chart:-Standings:* x - Clinched playoff berth...
. The Jazz ended the season 41–41 and just 3 games out of the playoffs
2006 NBA Playoffs
The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2005–06 season. The Miami Heat won the first championship in the history of the franchise by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-2 in the 2006 NBA Finals...
. Ostertag retired at the end of the season, having spent 10 of his 11 NBA seasons with the team.
In the 2006 NBA Draft
2006 NBA Draft
The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2006 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players,...
, the Jazz selected promising University of Arkansas shooting guard Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Chicago Bulls. The Utah Jazz selected him with the 14th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. Brewer played collegiately at the University of Arkansas, where his father Ron Brewer was a star in the late 1970s...
in the first round and in the second round selected point guard Dee Brown and power forward Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
. Several young players were traded away for Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
guard Derek Fisher
Derek Fisher
Derek Lamar Fisher is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His NBA career has spanned more than 14 years, during which he has won five NBA Championships...
, giving them a veteran point guard. The Jazz were heralded by several major sports websites for drafting well and making good offseason moves.
2006-2010: Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer duo
During the '06-'07 season, the Jazz improved considerably compared to the prior years, finishing with a 51–31 record. Boozer was selected as an All-Star for the first time (though he missed the game to a minor injury) and center Mehmet OkurMehmet Okur
Mehmet Murat Okur is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Türk Telekom B.K.. He is also under contract with the Utah Jazz of the NBA, and can return to that team when the 2011 NBA lockout ends...
was selected to the All-Star game
2007 NBA All-Star Game
The 2007 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas's Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It was the 56th annual All-Star Game. It was the first time the All-Star Game was played in a city without an NBA franchise and...
as well. Deron Williams had a breakout sophomore season, finishing third in the league in assists per game with 9.3 (behind Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
and Chris Paul
Chris Paul
Christopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
).
The team also developed a deep bench; in the 10 games that Boozer and Okur (the two leading scorers) missed, the team went 8–2. Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, becoming a competent backup to Boozer. Despite the elevated play of the Jazz's budding stars, Kirilenko showed a significant drop in his statistics and seemed to struggle adapting to his reduced role. This eventually led to a well-publicized breakdown early in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jazz faced the Houston Rockets
2006–07 Houston Rockets season
The 2006–07 Houston Rockets season was the 40th season of the Houston Rockets franchise in the NBA. The team ended the regular season with a 52-30 record and a 3rd-place finish in the Southwest. The Rockets faced the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, losing the series in seven games.With the playoff loss,...
in the first round that year, a matchup of #4-#5 seeds (Utah was seeded higher due to winning the Northwest Division, but Houston had a 52-30 record opposed to Utah's 51-31, giving them homecourt in the series). It was a physical, close-fought matchup, with each of the first 6 games being won by the home team. The Jazz were able to break this trend in the 7th game, beating the Rockets 103–99 in Houston. The Jazz then went on to face the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors
2006–07 Golden State Warriors season
The Golden State Warriors 2006–07 season is the sixty-first National Basketball Association season for the Golden State Warriors basketball franchise, and their thirty-fourth overall while based in Oakland, CA...
, who were coming off a historic upset of the #1-seeded Dallas Mavericks
2006–07 Dallas Stars season
The 2006–07 Dallas Stars season was the 14th season of operation of the Dallas Stars, 40th over-all of the franchise. The Stars made one major acquisition worth noting: Eric Lindros...
(who had gone 67–15 in the regular season, one of the best in NBA history). However, the Jazz easily handled the Warriors, winning the series 4–1. The Jazz then faced the San Antonio Spurs
2006–07 San Antonio Spurs season
-NBA Draft:-Depth chart:-Regular season:* Statistics include only games with the Spurs-Playoffs:-Game 1:LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers entered the 2007 Finals as newcomers. Game 1 was the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, and the first for each of its players...
in the Western Conference Finals, but were unable to handle the more experienced Spurs, losing 4 games to 1 in the series to the eventual NBA Champions.
During the offseason, the Jazz gained a hometown D-League affiliate in the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
(based in Orem
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
), which they shared with the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. They selected shooting guard Morris Almond
Morris Almond
Morris Almond is an American professional basketball player.-High school:Almond attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, and was a teammate of current Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith....
in the first round, although ultimately they made few lineup changes. The most significant move was in letting Derek Fisher
Derek Fisher
Derek Lamar Fisher is an American professional basketball point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His NBA career has spanned more than 14 years, during which he has won five NBA Championships...
go. Fisher had become a fan favorite due to his strong play, and also a sympathetic one due to his daughter's well-publicized battle with a rare form of eye cancer. Fisher moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
during the offseason to be closer to better care for his daughter, and later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, with whom he won three championships from 2000–2002. Controversy arose after Andrei Kirilenko led his Russian national team
Russia national basketball team
The Russian national basketball team represents Russia in international basketball matches. The team came into existence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and its powerful basketball team. It has won 2 silver medals in the FIBA World Championships...
to a win in EuroBasket 2007
Eurobasket 2007
-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Second round:- Group E :- Group F :-Championship bracket:- Quarterfinals :-Classification rounds:- Semifinals :- Third place game:- Final :...
(the European championship), a tournament in which he was named MVP. After this, Kirilenko posted on a blog that he wished to be traded from the Jazz and would be willing to walk away from his contract. He later reaffirmed this in interviews. However, no trade was made and he remained with the team.
During the 2007–08 season, after a trade that sent guard Gordan Giricek to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in exchange for guard Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver
Kyle Elliot Korver is an American basketball player, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
, the Jazz ran off a record-tying 19-game home winning streak and improved on the road after a rough December. Despite the off-season controversy and trade talk, Kirilenko elevated his play, improving all stats from the previous season and seeming content with his new role more as a defender and a facilitator as opposed to a scorer. Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
again won an All-Star selection, while Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
continued to elevate his play, averaging 13.3 assists per game in March (as opposed to 10.5 for the season as a whole). The Jazz finished the regular season 5th best in the west with a 54–28 record. For the first time since the 97-98 season, the Jazz sold out every home game, and they possessed a phenomenal 37-4 home record; this was, however, offset by a subpar road record.
The Jazz once again became matched against the Houston Rockets
2007–08 Houston Rockets season
The 2007-08 Houston Rockets season was their 41st season in the National Basketball Association and 37th in Houston. The Rockets won at least 50 games for the second straight season and made the playoffs also on the back of a 22 game winning streak, the second longest in the history of the NBA. The...
in the first round of the playoffs, this time as a #4 seed (although the Rockets possessed home-court advantage due to a better record). The Jazz jumped out to a quick 2-0 series lead in Houston, but lost the first game in Salt Lake City. After splitting the next two games, the Jazz dealt the Rockets a 113-91 blowout victory in game 6, placing them into a second-round matchup with the #1 seed Los Angeles Lakers
2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season
The 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 62nd season of the franchise, 60th in the National Basketball Association and 48th in Los Angeles. The team celebrated their 60th anniversary, thus the Laker jerseys wore the 60th anniversary patches on the leftmost part...
, their first postseason meeting since the since the 1998
1998 NBA Playoffs
The 1998 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997-98 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their sixth championship of the decade by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz four...
Western Conference Finals. Utah lost games 1 and 2 in Los Angeles. However the Jazz held up their great home winning record by defeating Los Angeles in Games 3 and 4. The Jazz lost game 5 in L.A. and were eventually eliminated in Game 6. The Jazz made no major offseason moves during the following offseason, though Deron Williams was an integral part of the Gold-Medal winning Redeem Team at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
The 2008–09 season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
was difficult for the Jazz as they struggled with consistent injuries that continually disrupted the chemistry of the team, and although they were once again nearly unstoppable at home, they possessed a poor road record. Utah's top three players all missed significant times due to sickness or injuries; Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
missed 13 of the first 15 games, Carlos Boozer missed more than half of the season, and Mehmet Okur missed sporadic time due to both injuries and his father's sickness that forced him to travel to his native Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
early in the season. On February 20, 2009, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller
Larry H. Miller
Lawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
died of complications from diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 2
Diabetes mellitus type 2formerly non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetesis a metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. Diabetes is often initially managed by increasing exercise and...
. His son, Greg Miller, became the new CEO of the team. The Jazz finished with a 48–34 record, causing them to slip to #8 in the competitive Western Conference playoff race, after which they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the second year in a row, 4 games to 1.
The season ended up being the last for long-time radio and former TV announcer Hot Rod Hundley, who announced his retirement after being with the Jazz for their entire history (35 years). Despite the disappointment, Deron Williams proved himself to be one of the elite point guards of the league, averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 assists per game, second in the league, despite playing the entire season with a lingering ankle injury.
During the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
, the Jazz selected point guard Eric Maynor
Eric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American professional basketball player at point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He played college basketball for the VCU Rams...
#20 overall to back up Deron Williams. Veteran Matt Harpring retired, citing consistent injuries sustained from his physical playing style. Rumors began to circulate that Boozer wanted a trade, fueled by rumors that the Jazz were shopping him after he chose to "opt-in" to the last year of his contract; however, the team stated publicly that they were not seeking to trade him, and Boozer remained with the team heading into the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
. The Jazz also added rookie shooting guard Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles...
to the lineup after an impressive training camp.
As the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
began, the Jazz stumbled a bit early, starting off 19-17. Several trades were made by the team during the season, one that sent promising rookie Eric Maynor
Eric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor is an American professional basketball player at point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. He played college basketball for the VCU Rams...
and the contract of the retired Matt Harpring
Matt Harpring
Matthew Joseph Harpring is an American former professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the NBA. He is currently the color commentator for the Utah Jazz.-College career:...
to the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
. Another sent starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer
Ronnie Brewer is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Chicago Bulls. The Utah Jazz selected him with the 14th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. Brewer played collegiately at the University of Arkansas, where his father Ron Brewer was a star in the late 1970s...
to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
at midseason, a trade which was openly criticized by Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
. The Brewer trade cleared the way for Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles...
to take over the starting shooting guard spot. Also, Deron Williams was selected to play in the All-Star Game for the first time, and after a controversial offseason, Carlos Boozer played better than the year prior, averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, and missed only 4 games to injuries. He even suggested that he would be happy to stay with Utah long-term. After returning from an early season injury, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three-point field goal percentage in a season.
In a tight Western Conference, the Jazz finished the season 53-29 and lost the division in a tiebreaker with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
, ending with the #5 seed, matched up with the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Kirilenko, who had missed 13 of the last 15 games of the regular season due to a nagging calf muscle strain, re-aggravated the injury the day before the first game of the playoffs and missed the first round, while Mehmet Okur tore his Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in the first game and missed the rest of the playoffs. Despite the injuries, the Jazz played well enough to defeat Denver 4-2 in the series. The Jazz were then eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the third year in a row, being swept 4-0 (the first 4 game sweep in Jazz history).
Summer of 2010 - Busy offseason
During the 2010 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Gordon HaywardGordon Hayward
Gordon Daniel Hayward , is an American basketball player for the Utah Jazz. He played college basketball at Butler University in Indianapolis for two seasons before leaving for the NBA. Hayward emerged as a superstar in his sophomore year, leading his team to a runner-up finish in the 2010 NCAA...
with the #9 overall pick, and Jeremy Evans
Jeremy Evans
Jeremy Evans is a American basketball player who was drafted by the Utah Jazz as the 55th overall pick at the 2010 NBA Draft. A small forward, Evans played in college for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. As a senior at Western Kentucky Evans averaged 10.0 ppg with a field goal percentage of .639...
in the second round.
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
agreed to a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in free agency on July 7, 2010. The Jazz turned the transaction into a sign-and-trade one day later, receiving a trade exception worth around $13 million in return from Chicago. Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver
Kyle Elliot Korver is an American basketball player, who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
also agreed to sign with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, two days later, on July 9, 2010. Terms were not announced, but multiple reports have his deal for 3 years, $13 million.
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews
Wesley Matthews, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association . He played college basketball for the Marquette Golden Eagles...
signed a 5-year $33 million dollar offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers, as a restricted free agent, on July 10, 2010. The Jazz declined to match the offer, allowing Portland to acquire Matthews.
Less than a week after the Boozer defection, on July 13, 2010, the team traded Kosta Koufos
Kosta Koufos
Konstantine Demetrios "Kosta" Koufos is a Greek-American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. He was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft...
and 2 future first round picks to Minnesota
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
for Forward/Center Al Jefferson
Al Jefferson
Al Ricardo Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the NBA.-Early life:...
, using the trade exception from the Carlos Boozer deal to receive Jefferson's contract without exceeding the salary cap.
Raja Bell
Raja Bell
Raja Bell is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Utah Jazz of the NBA. Bell is known for his three-point shooting and intense defense.- Biography :Bell was born in Saint Croix, in the U.S...
was added also, to provide backcourt help after the losses of Korver and Matthews. He was signed to a 3-year, $10 million contract.
On June 15, 2010, the Jazz unveiled a new color scheme and logo which represented a return to the old 'music note' logo. The team unveiled new uniforms on August 16.
The Jazz tendered restricted free-agent center Kyrylo Fesenko a $1 million qualifying offer in June 2010. The offer entitled Utah to match any offer that Fesenko received from another team, whether signed or not. Fesenko signed the offer on September 27, 2010, the day before training camp began.
On the eve of training camp, the Jazz added two more players, center Francisco Elson
Francisco Elson
Francisco Marinho Robby Elson is a Dutch professional basketball player. At 7' 0" and weighing 235 lbs , he most recently played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA. Elson is the seventh Dutch player in the NBA....
and guard Earl Watson
Earl Watson
Earl Joseph Watson, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Watson is a graduate of Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas...
to shore up the roster for the 2010-11 season.
2011-present: Jerry Sloan Era ends, Corbin Era begins
See 2010–11 Utah Jazz season2010–11 Utah Jazz season
The 2010–11 Utah Jazz season was the 32nd season of the franchise in Salt Lake City, and the 37th overall in the National Basketball Association . On February 10, 2011, legendary Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan resigned in the middle of the season. Tyrone Corbin was named the new head coach...
The 2010-11 season began for the Jazz on a positive note, as the team went undefeated (8-0) in the preseason, and in mid-January, they were 27-13 and seemed well on their way to another winning season, had that pace continued. However, over the next 14 games, Utah went 4-10. On February 10, 2011, with the team record at 31-23 after a loss to the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, head coach Jerry Sloan resigned, along with assistant Phil Johnson. Another of Sloan's assistants, Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Kennedy Corbin is the head coach of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He was installed as head coach on February 10, 2011 following the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan....
, was named the new head coach, while Scott Layden, the other assistant, remained as well. A week later, the Jazz hired former Jazz player Jeff Hornacek as an assistant coach.
On February 23, 2011, the Jazz traded star player Deron Williams
Deron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
to the New Jersey Nets for two 1st round draft picks (New Jersey's 2011 and Golden State's conditional 2012) and players, Derrick Favors
Derrick Favors
Derrick Bernard Favors is an American basketball player for the Utah Jazz. He is a power forward who played for Georgia Tech. On June 24, 2010, he was drafted 3rd overall by the New Jersey Nets of the NBA....
and Devin Harris
Devin Harris
Devin Lamar Harris is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Harris attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
. It was rumored that Williams got into a shouting match with head coach Jerry Sloan during a game against the Chicago Bulls, which preceded Sloan's resignation and eventually, the Jazz's decision to trade their star player.
While Williams was under contract through with a player option worth $17.7 million for , Jazz chief executive officer Greg Miller did not believe they would be able to re-sign Williams. "And while I never saw any indication that he wouldn’t re-sign with us, I never saw any indication he would,” said Miller.
The remainder of the season saw the Jazz continue to struggle, finishing with a 39-43 record, 11th in the Western Conference, and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06.
Rivals
The Jazz have not had a natural or fierce rival throughout their history, where each team has been competitive with the other over a long period of time. There have been several teams they have run into many times in the playoffs, however:Houston (7) - 1985, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008
Los Angeles Lakers (6) - 1988, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010
Portland (5) - 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000
Houston won two NBA Championships (1994, 1995) while defeating Utah along the way. Utah advanced to the NBA Finals both times that they defeated the Lakers, while LA has advanced to the Finals each year they defeated Utah in a series, winning NBA Championships in 1988, 2009, and 2010. Portland advanced to the NBA Finals in 1992 after defeating Utah as well.
Olympians
On June 23, 2008, it was officially announced that team members Deron WilliamsDeron Williams
Deron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
and Carlos Boozer
Carlos Boozer
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
were selected for the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9, 2008 to August 24, 2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China...
in China. The Jazz were the only team in the NBA with two players on the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad. The "Redeem Team" was awarded the gold medal.
Williams and Boozer joined former Jazz players John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
and Karl Malone
Karl Malone
Karl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
as the only Jazzmen to be selected to play for the U.S. team. Stockton and Malone won gold medals at the 1992
Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics
The Basketball games of the 1992 Summer Olympics were played at the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona. 12 men's teams and 8 women's teams participated in the tournament....
and 1996
Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 1996 Olympic Games were held from July 20, 1996 to August 4, 1996. Games took place at the Morehouse College Gymnasium and the Georgia Dome. For the second straight Olympic games, the American men's team composed almost entirely of NBA players won the gold medal...
Olympic games. Andrei Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko (basketball)
Andrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...
represented his home country of Russia
Russia national basketball team
The Russian national basketball team represents Russia in international basketball matches. The team came into existence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and its powerful basketball team. It has won 2 silver medals in the FIBA World Championships...
at the 2008 games.
Season-by-season records
The Jazz are one of only 3 teams to have never lost 60 games in a season. The other teams are the New York KnicksNew York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
Arenas
In New Orleans- Loyola Field HouseLoyola Field HouseLoyola Field House was an indoor arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. It hosted the ABA's New Orleans Buccaneers, and the NBA's New Orleans Jazz. The arena held 6,500 people....
(1974–1975) - Municipal AuditoriumMunicipal Auditorium (New Orleans)The Morris F.X. Jeff, Sr. Municipal Auditorium is a 7,853-seat multi-purpose arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a component of the New Orleans Cultural Center, alongside the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. It is located in the Treme neighborhood in Louis Armstrong Park near Congo...
(1974–1975) - Louisiana SuperdomeLouisiana SuperdomeThe Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
(1975–1979)
In Salt Lake City
- Salt PalaceSalt PalaceThis article describes a large building in Utah. A one-story building made of locally mined salt blocks in Grand Saline, Texas is also called the "Salt Palace"....
(1979–1991) - EnergySolutions ArenaEnergySolutions ArenaEnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena, in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, owned by Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc., the estate of Larry H. Miller...
(formerly the Delta Center) (1991–Present)
Uniforms
Since the team's move from New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
to Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
in 1979, the Utah Jazz have worn several uniforms throughout their franchise history. From 1979–1996, the Jazz' home uniforms consisted of the "basketball forming J music note to write on Jazz" logo on the center chest, with purple numbers. The only modification to this uniform was the word "Utah" being added to the center chest logo in 1986. The road uniforms were purple with the 'J-note' logo and numbers in white. From 1981–1984, the Jazz' road uniforms were dark green, with the aforementioned Jazz logo on the center chest and gold numbers. For the 1984–85 season, the road uniforms were changed back to purple, this time with gold numbers and white trim. These uniforms were worn until the 1995–96 season
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
.
For the 1996–97 season, the Jazz drastically updated their logos and uniforms, with a new color scheme of purple, copper and turquoise. Their new uniform set featured a silhouette of the Wasatch Range
Wasatch Range
The Wasatch Range is a mountain range that stretches approximately from the Utah-Idaho border, south through central Utah in the western United States. It is generally considered the western edge of the greater Rocky Mountains, and the eastern edge of the Great Basin region...
on the center chest, with a stylish new Jazz script, and purple & turquoise details. On the road purple jersey, the white mountain range gradually fades to purple just above the numbers, which are white, with copper interior trim and teal outlining. On the home white jersey, the numbers are purple, with white interior trim and teal outlining. The Jazz wore these jerseys until the 2003–04 season.
The Jazz also introduced an alternate black jersey in the 1998–99 season, with the Jazz script on the center chest, but without the Wasatch Range silhouette. On this jersey, both the Jazz script and numbers are white, with purple interior trim and copper outlining, and copper side panels. These jerseys were worn until the 2003–04 season.
In the 2004–05 season, the Jazz once again updated their color scheme, logos and uniforms. The new color scheme, which the team used until the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
, consisted of navy blue, powder blue, silver & purple, though the latter color was only used on the primary logo and alternate logo. The team logo remained the same, for the exception of the new color variation. The new home uniform consisted of an updated "Jazz" script on the center chest in navy blue, with navy numbers, both of which had silver interior trim and powder blue outlining. The new road uniform was navy blue, with a "Utah" script in powder blue on the center chest and powder blue numbers, both of which had silver outlining and white interior trim.
In the 2006–07 season, the Jazz introduced a new alternate powder blue uniform. This uniform, which the team used until the end of the 2009–10 season, featured a Jazz script identical to the team logo and navy blue numbers below the script, also with silver and white trim. The nameplate on the back of the jersey was navy blue.
On June 15, 2010, the Jazz unveiled a new logo and color scheme on the team's official website. For the 2010–11 season
2010–11 NBA season
The 2010–11 NBA season was the 65th season of the National Basketball Association . The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was played on February 20, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games, 4 games to 2, to win their first NBA title, and...
, the Jazz reverted to the team's original music note logo (without the word Utah), with a new color scheme of navy blue, gold, dark green & gray. The new uniform set, which was unveiled on August 16, 2010, features a design nearly identical to the team's aforementioned 1980s uniform designs, with the following differences: navy blue replacing purple on the road jerseys, dark green numerals on the home white jerseys, a white Jazz logo script on the road jerseys and side panels on both the home and away jerseys. The new uniforms were a combination of both the old and new styles, with navy blue retained from the most recent color scheme, but the now-famous 'J-note' logo and gold and green were revived.
International rights
{| style="border:1px solid black;"| PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... |  | Peter Fehse Peter Fehse Peter Fehse is a German professional basketball player who is currently coaching for BG Bitterfeld-Sandersdorf-Wolfen in German third league assisting former German national player Stephen Arigbabu... | 2002 NBA Draft 2002 NBA Draft The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting 57 amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from non-North... | 48th pick | C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well... |  | Ante Tomić Ante Tomic (basketball) Ante Tomić is a Croatian professional basketball player. He is a tall center.-Pro career:... | 2008 NBA Draft 2008 NBA Draft The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including... | 44th pick | PF Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low... | Tadija Dragićević Tadija Dragicevic Tadija Dragićević is a Serbian professional basketball player, currently plays with Angelico Biella.... | 2008 NBA Draft 2008 NBA Draft The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including... | 53rd pick |
Basketball Hall Of Famers
- Players:
- "Pistol" Pete MaravichPete MaravichPeter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
, G, 1974–1979, Inducted 1987. - Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
, F/G, 1979–1986, Inducted 2008. - John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, PG, 1984–2003, Inducted 2009 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
, PF, 1985–2003, Inducted 2010
- Coaches:
- Jerry SloanJerry SloanGerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
, 1988–2011, Inducted 2009
- Broadcasters:
- "Hot" Rod HundleyRod HundleyRodney Clark "Rod" Hundley is a former professional basketball player and television broadcaster. Hundley's life has revolved around the game of basketball. His love and talent for the game led him to achieve honors in high school and most notably during his college years...
, 1974–2009, Inducted 2003
Retired numbers
- 1 Frank LaydenFrank LaydenFrank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team...
Head Coach, 1981–1988 - 4 Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
, F, 1979–1986 - 7 Pistol Pete Maravich, G, 1974–1979
- 9 Larry H. MillerLarry H. MillerLawrence Horne "Larry H." Miller was a Utah businessman and philanthropist who was well known as the owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz and the of Triple-A baseball team, the Salt Lake Bees, 41 automotive dealerships throughout the Western United States , and a variety of other business ventures...
, Owner, 1985-2009 (his death) - 12 John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
, G, 1984–2003 - 14 Jeff HornacekJeff HornacekJeffrey John Hornacek is a retired American basketball player who played at the shooting guard position in the NBA from 1986–2000.-Elementary and high school:...
, G, 1994–2000 - 32 Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
, F, 1985–2003 - 35 Darrell Griffith, G, 1980–1991
- 53 Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
, C, 1982–1993 - microphone "Hot" Rod HundleyRod HundleyRodney Clark "Rod" Hundley is a former professional basketball player and television broadcaster. Hundley's life has revolved around the game of basketball. His love and talent for the game led him to achieve honors in high school and most notably during his college years...
, broadcaster 1974-2009
Individual awards
NBA MVP- Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
– 1997, 1999
NBA Rookie of the Year
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner receives the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, which is named in honor of the Philadelphia Warriors head...
- Darrell Griffith – 1981
NBA Defesive Player of the Year
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1982–83 NBA season, to the top defensive player of the regular season...
- Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
- 1985, 1989
NBA Coach of the Year
NBA Coach of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
- Frank LaydenFrank LaydenFrank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team...
- 1984
All-NBA First Team
- Pete MaravichPete MaravichPeter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
- 1976, 1977 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 - John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
- 1994, 1995
All-NBA Second Team
- Pete MaravichPete MaravichPeter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
- 1978 - Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
- 1981, 1984 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 1988, 2000 - John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996 - Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
- 2008, 2010
All-NBA Third Team
- John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
- 1991, 1997, 1999 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 2000 - Carlos BoozerCarlos BoozerCarlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player with the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association...
- 2008
NBA All-Defensive First Team
- E.C. ColemanE.C. ColemanE.C. Coleman Jr. is a retired American basketball player.Coleman played collegiately for Houston Baptist, and was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 3rd round of the 1973 NBA Draft...
- 1977 - Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
- 1985, 1986, 1989 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 1997, 1998, 1999 - Andrei KirilenkoAndrei KirilenkoAndrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...
- 2006
NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
- 1987, 1988 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 1988 - John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
- 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997 - Andrei KirilenkoAndrei KirilenkoAndrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...
- 2004, 2005
NBA Rookie First Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
- Darrell Griffith - 1981
- Thurl BaileyThurl BaileyThurl Lee Bailey is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA whose career spanned from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.- Basketball career :...
- 1984 - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
- 1986 - Andrei KirilenkoAndrei KirilenkoAndrei Gennadyevich Kirilenko is a Russian-American professional basketball player who plays at the small forward position for the CSKA Moscow in the Russian Professional Basketball League. He also plays for the Russia national basketball team...
- 2002 - Deron WilliamsDeron WilliamsDeron Michael Williams , nicknamed D-Will, is an American basketball player currently with the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association . Williams has also played for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketball League...
- 2006
NBA Rookie Second Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
- Blue EdwardsBlue EdwardsTheodore "Blue" Edwards is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. Edwards played ten years in the league.-Biography:Edwards' hometown was Walstonburg, North Carolina...
- 1990 - Paul MillsapPaul MillsapPaul Millsap is an American professional basketball player currently with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. As a 6'8", 250 lbs. power forward from Louisiana Tech University, Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft. His game was initially...
- 2007 - Derrick FavorsDerrick FavorsDerrick Bernard Favors is an American basketball player for the Utah Jazz. He is a power forward who played for Georgia Tech. On June 24, 2010, he was drafted 3rd overall by the New Jersey Nets of the NBA....
- 2011
Broadcasters
The Jazz's flagship radio stations are KFNZKFNZ
KFNZ is a radio station broadcasting a Sports format. Licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the station serves the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by the Larry H...
and KBEE
KBEE
KBEE, branded as B98.7, is a radio station in Salt Lake City, Utah which broadcasts at 98.7 MHz. It began in 1995 after Citadel Broadcasting purchased KVRI, a hot adult contemporary station. The station took the calls as KBEE although the music format virtually remained the same...
.
The Jazz signed a new exclusive 12 year agreement with Root Sports Utah
Root Sports Utah
Root Sports Utah is a regional sports network that serves Utah. It carries the NBA's Utah Jazz, college sports from the University of Utah and Utah State University, as well as Fox Sports Net programming. It originally launched in 1988 as an affiliate of the Prime Network known as Prime Sports...
on October 20, 2009, ending the team's broadcasts on KJZZ-TV
KJZZ-TV
KJZZ-TV, virtual channel 14, is a full-service Independent television station serving Salt Lake City, Utah, USA and surrounding areas, broadcasting in digital on UHF channel 46. The KJZZ transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains...
.
The Current team's announcers are:
- Craig BolerjackCraig BolerjackCraig Bolerjack is an American sportscaster. He is currently an announcer for FOX Sports, working mostly college football and college basketball games.-Biography:...
(TV play-by-play) - Matt HarpringMatt HarpringMatthew Joseph Harpring is an American former professional basketball player who played 12 seasons in the NBA. He is currently the color commentator for the Utah Jazz.-College career:...
(TV color commentary) - David Locke (radio play-by-play)
- Ron BooneRon BooneRonald Bruce Boone is a retired American Basketball Association player.During his years at Tech High in North Omaha, Nebraska, Boone stood 6'2" and weighed 175 pounds....
(radio broadcast analyst) - Dan RobertsDan Roberts (announcer)Dan Roberts is an American public address announcer best known for his work for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. He has held this position since 1979, the entirety of the team's stay in Utah....
(public address announcer, home games) - Alema Harrington (TV Host pre and post game)
- Thurl BaileyThurl BaileyThurl Lee Bailey is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA whose career spanned from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.- Basketball career :...
(TV broadcast analyst) - Steve Brown (TV sideline reporterSideline reporterA sideline reporter, also known as a field reporter, courtside reporter , clubhouse reporter or dugout reporter , rinkside reporter or inside-the-glass reporter , on-court reporter , hole reporter , or boundary rider , is a member of the...
)
Retired Announcers:
- Rod HundleyRod HundleyRodney Clark "Rod" Hundley is a former professional basketball player and television broadcaster. Hundley's life has revolved around the game of basketball. His love and talent for the game led him to achieve honors in high school and most notably during his college years...
(TV and Radio play-by-play)(1974–2009)
Franchise leaders
- Career
- Games: John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
(1,504) - Minutes Played: Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
(53,479) - Field Goals Made: Karl Malone (13,335)
- Field Goal Attempts: Karl Malone (25,810)
- 3-Point Field Goals Made: John Stockton (845)
- 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: John Stockton (2,203)
- Free Throws Made: Karl Malone (9,619)
- Free Throw Attempts: Karl Malone (12,963)
- Offensive Rebounds: Karl Malone (3,501)
- Defensive Rebounds: Karl Malone (11,100)
- Total Rebounds: Karl Malone (14,601)
- Assists**: John Stockton (15,806)
- Steals**: John Stockton (3,265)
- Blocked Shots: Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
(3,064) - Turnovers: Karl Malone (4,421)
- Personal Fouls: Karl Malone (4,462)
- Points: Karl Malone (36,374)
- Games: John Stockton
- Per Game
- Minutes Played: Truck RobinsonTruck RobinsonLeonard Eugene Robinson was a power forward for the Washington Bullets , Atlanta Hawks , New Orleans Jazz , Phoenix Suns , and New York Knicks ....
(43.35) - Field Goals Made: Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
(10.65) - Field Goal Attempts: Pete MaravichPete MaravichPeter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
(22.75) - 3-Point Field Goals Made: Jeff HornacekJeff HornacekJeffrey John Hornacek is a retired American basketball player who played at the shooting guard position in the NBA from 1986–2000.-Elementary and high school:...
(0.92) - 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Bryon RussellBryon RussellBryon Demetrise Russell is an American basketball player. During an NBA career that spanned from 1993 to 2006, he played for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers and was a key member of the Utah Jazz, helping them reach back-to-back NBA finals appearances in 1997 and 1998...
(2.32) - Free Throws Made: Adrian Dantley (8.27)
- Free Throw Attempts: Adrian Dantley (10.11)
- Offensive Rebounds: Truck Robinson (3.50)
- Defensive Rebounds: Truck Robinson (11.42)
- Total Rebounds: Truck Robinson (14.92)
- Assists: John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
(10.51) - Steals: John Stockton (2.17)
- Blocked Shots: Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
(3.50) - Turnovers: Pete Maravich (4.25)
- Personal Fouls: Danny SchayesDanny SchayesDaniel Leslie "Danny" Schayes is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1981 until 1999. At 6'11" and 235 pounds, he played at center...
(3.85) - Points: Adrian Dantley (29.58)
- Minutes Played: Truck Robinson
- Per 48 Minutes
- Field Goals Made: Adrian DantleyAdrian DantleyAdrian Delano Dantley is a retired American basketball player who played 15 seasons in the NBA, including seven as a member of the Utah Jazz. A forward/guard and six-time NBA All-Star, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008...
(13.16) - Field Goal Attempts: Pete MaravichPete MaravichPeter "Pistol Pete" Press Maravich was an American professional basketball player. Born and raised in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Maravich starred in college at Louisiana State University and played for three NBA teams until injuries induced him to retire in 1980...
(28.48) - 3-Point Field Goals Made: Chris MorrisChris Morris (basketball)Christopher Vernard Morris is a retired American professional basketball player. In his 11 season NBA career, the 6' 8" small forward played for the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns. He is a graduate of Atlanta's Douglass High School where his jersey has been retired and played for...
(1.85) - 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Chris Morris (6.08)
- Free Throws Made: John DrewJohn Drew (basketball)John Edward Drew is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'6" guard/forward from Gardner-Webb University, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. Drew was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was one of the earliest casualties of the drug policy instituted by commissioner David Stern.- Amateur...
(10.97) - Free Throw Attempts: John Drew (14.28)
- Offensive Rebounds: Ron BehagenRon BehagenRonald Michael Behagen is a retired American basketball player.A 6'9" center from DeWitt Clinton High School in New York City, Behagen played basketball in junior college and at the University of Minnesota during the early 1970s. One of his teammates was future Baseball Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield...
(5.52) - Defensive Rebounds: Truck RobinsonTruck RobinsonLeonard Eugene Robinson was a power forward for the Washington Bullets , Atlanta Hawks , New Orleans Jazz , Phoenix Suns , and New York Knicks ....
(12.65) - Total Rebounds: Rich KelleyRich KelleyRichard Ryland Kelley is a retired American basketball player.A center/power forward, a graduate of Woodside High School, Kelley played college basketball for Stanford....
(16.72) - Assists: John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
(15.88) - Steals: Carey ScurryCarey ScurryCarey Scurry is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward from Long Island University, Scurry played three seasons in the NBA as a member of the Utah Jazz and New York Knicks...
(3.65) - Blocked Shots: Mark EatonMark Eaton (basketball)Mark E. Eaton is a retired American professional basketball player who was a member of the NBA's Utah Jazz from 1982 to 1994. He was famous for his giant frame and his strong defense...
(5.84) - Turnovers: Jim LesJim Les-External links:**...
(5.55) - Personal Fouls: Eric LecknerEric LecknerEric Charles Leckner is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 1st round of the 1988 NBA Draft...
(10.30) - Points: John Drew (36.98)
- Field Goals Made: Adrian Dantley
** – Leads NBA
Head coaches
{|border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 85%;"!Years
!Coach
!Record
|-
|1974–1975
|Scotty Robertson
Scotty Robertson
Robert Scott Robertson, III, known as Scotty Robertson , was an American basketball coach of four NBA teams. He was the first coach for the New Orleans Jazz , and he later coached the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons...
|1–14
|-
|1974–1975
|Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
|0–1
|-
|1974–1977
|Bill Van Breda Kolff
|74–100
|-
|1977–1979
|Elgin Baylor
Elgin Baylor
Elgin Gay Baylor is a retired Hall of Fame American basketball player and former NBA general manager who played 13 seasons as a forward for the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers....
|86–134
|-
|1979–1981
|Tom Nissalke
Tom Nissalke
Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association...
|60–124
|-
|1981–1988
|Frank Layden
Frank Layden
Frank Layden is a retired American basketball coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz.-Coaching career:In additional to his coaching at the professional level, Layden is also a former head coach and player of his alma mater Niagara University's basketball team...
|277–294
|-
|1988–2011
|Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan
Gerald Eugene "Jerry" Sloan , is an American former National Basketball Association player and head coach, and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. NBA commissioner David Stern called Sloan "one of the greatest and most respected coaches in NBA history." Sloan had a career regular-season...
|1221-758
|-
|2011–Present
|Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Corbin
Tyrone Kennedy Corbin is the head coach of the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He was installed as head coach on February 10, 2011 following the resignation of longtime coach Jerry Sloan....
|8-20
|-
|1974–Present
|Total
|1727–1445
|}