Former Jazz F/C Derrick Favors To Start For Thunder In Season Opener

Oct 20, 2021, 6:16 PM | Updated: 8:34 pm

Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz reacts in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on November 17, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

BY KYLE IRELAND, KSL SPORTS

Sports Producer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Oklahoma City Thunder plan to start former Jazzman Derrick Favors during their season opener against the Utah Jazz.

The Jazz open the 2021-22 NBA season by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Arena on Wednesday, October 20.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault inserted Favors into his starting lineup for the game against the center’s former team.

“He’s coming home. This is a special place for him and I wanted to acknowledge that,” Daigneault told the media before tip-off.

Jazz head coach Quin Snyder also discussed Favors during pregame and called the Thunder big man a lifelong friend.

“You hope that you have the chance to get to know someone at a personal level like I’ve had the chance to know Fav,” Snyder said.

Before the game, the crowd at Vivint Arena gave the former Jazzman a warm welcome back to Utah.

Back home, @utahjazz fans give Derrick Favors a very warm welcome. #TakeNote | ⁦@kslsports⁩ pic.twitter.com/zpJJvTwCfE

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 21, 2021

The season opener will be Favors’ second year playing the Jazz as a member on another team in the past three seasons.

En route to #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/B3r4VcUNMH

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) October 19, 2021

Derrick Favors in the NBA

After playing the first half of his rookie season with the New Jersey Nets, Favors came to the Jazz in a trade during the 2010-11 season.

The big man would go on to play the following eight-plus seasons with Utah.

Derrick Favors put an exclamation point on the Jazz win in Minnesota with this dunk in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/Nc5KWkfF4M

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) March 27, 2016

After the 2018-19 season, the Jazz traded Favors to the New Orleans Pelicans.

During his first nine seasons with Utah, Favors averaged 12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game.

Favors returned to the Jazz on a three-year deal before the 2020-21 season.

Last season, the center recorded 5.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 15.3 minutes per contest.

During his entire time with the Jazz, Favors averaged 11.4 points on 53.0 percent shooting. He also posted 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 25.2 minutes per game.

"Hide the women and children!" – @Lockedonsports Derrick Favors throws down a big dunk in the Jazz win over the Hornets. #UtahJazz #TAKENOTE pic.twitter.com/QFeguJHGzp

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 10, 2018

Favors appeared in 644 games with the Jazz, including 413 starts.

The center owns career averages of 10.8 points, 7.2 boards, 1.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks.

Thunder vs. Jazz

The Thunder vs. Jazz game tips off at 7 p.m. (MDT). It will be televised on AT&T Sports Net and NBA League Pass. Streaming is available on DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Fans can listen to the game on The Zone Sports Network (97.5 FM & 1280 AM) and KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM and 1160 AM).

Guess who's back? The @utahjazz 👀

Which player are you most excited to see in action?

📻: @kslnewsradio or @ZoneSportsNet

📺: AT&T SportsNet or Fubo

🎧: https://t.co/LqmyLf0ake pic.twitter.com/3rGZOJf29l

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 20, 2021