Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season… So Far
Dec 6, 2022, 12:56 PM | Updated: Dec 8, 2022, 4:00 pm
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) is helped off the ground by teammates Collin Sexton (2) and Rudy Gay (22) during an NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. The Jazz won 139-116. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
It’s still early in the season, but the Utah Jazz have stunned some fans and doubters alike so far.
Team strategy shifted with a change in leadership during the offseason, including head coach Will Hardy, owner Ryan Smith, and CEO Danny Ainge. After trading all-stars Rudy Gobert and Donavan Mitchell, many believed the team would try to tank in order to score a top draft pick in the future. But in a surprise turn of events, the Jazz have been playing better than expected.
New coach Will Hardy, at only 34 years old and younger than some of the players, has earned much respect from the team. So far, his level-headed approach to wins and losses is keeping the morale high.
Will Hardy, pictured second from the right is the Utah Jazz head coach (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Here are just a few highlights and noteworthy events from this season to #TakeNote of.
New All-Stars
Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz (Photo: Utah Jazz)
After losing Mitchell and Gobert, many thought the Utah Jazz would be overlooked and underrated. With the NBA All-Star Game coming up in Utah (on February 17-19), fans thought it would be a shame not to have any representatives from the home state.
However, Lauri Markannen and Jordan Clarkson have advanced this season to potentially fill those roles. Collin Sexton has also performed well this season with a 14.2 ppg. Rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji have promising skills that could make the Jazz stand out in the coming years.
Noteworthy Wins
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) pushes up a shot as he is hit by Los Angeles Clippers guard Amir Coffey (7) at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
During their season opener, the Jazz had a major win with a 123-102 victory over the Nuggets. This was when other news outlets clearly saw the team showed promise.
More recently, they snapped out of their 5-game losing streak against the Clippers on November 30, winning 125-112. During this game, Coach Hardy and the players demonstrated trust in each other that shows they are working collaboratively.
Stay on top of standings and find the upcoming schedule here.
Can the Utah Jazz Still Make it to the Playoffs?
This question is undoubtedly on the top of mind for fans, but if the team keeps winning there is a strong chance.
Stay up to speed with live updates as the rest of the season rolls out here on KSL Sports.
