Utah Jazz Dream team

 

As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of

the game being in constant change, conventional wisdom

suggests that players from different eras cannot be compared.

However, I have decided to defy those odds. 

The Utah Jazz were established in 1974 as the New Orleans

Jazz. The franchise remained in The Big Easy until 1979 and

have called Salt Lake City, Utah, home since that year. 

You would be hard-pressed to find a team with a mascot name

that is more polar opposite of its home city than the Utah Jazz.

Former owner Sam Battisone moved the team from New Orleans

to Salt Lake City because of financial concerns. The Jazz do not

have an NBA championship to their resume but reached back-

to-back NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 losing both times to the

Chicago Bulls, who at the time were NBA royalty winning six

NBA titles in eight years.

The Jazz failed to reach the postseason for their first nine

seasons but made the postseason for 20 consecutive years, the

second longest streak in NBA history to the San Antonio Spurs

and Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers. In a nutshell, while

the Jazz do not have an NBA title, the best way to describe them

is they have been like the hurdler that never wins the race but is

always in the mix. 

Today, I put together a Jazz Dream Team. There are some rigid

criteria in making this team. First of all, the player needed to have

played for the Jazz for a minimum of four seasons -- no exceptions.

However, someone on this team is keeping the seat warm for

current star Donovan Mitchell, who is in his third season. It’s just

a question of who gets bumped? 

Since the free agency era began 30 years ago, that standard

needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make this list. This

roster is all-encompassing from all eras. 

Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.

This is basketball, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame

is the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise.

The number of All-NBA seasons are a top consideration with

longevity also helping immensely. While I understand it is hard

to compare eras, I’m not going to convolute this discussion. 

Generational reminders

Being on the Jazz during a season of being a contender does

not get you a hall pass on this team. However, being on the

Jazz during a bad season is no deterrent to getting a spot on

this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level performers get

considered. 

To further the challenge, the modern game has evolved into

positionless basketball. The roster will comprise 15 players

encompassing all eras. The starting lineup will be position

specific, after that it will be the best of the rest with four years

playing for the franchise being the first requirement. 

So, if you want to make a case for a player being on the team,

don’t just tell me he should be there and why, tell me who you

would remove. Before you make a case to put someone on

the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at that position?”

Starting lineup

Point guard: John Stockton

“Stockton-to-Malone” was a familiar refrain to Jazz fans and

throughout the NBA for nearly 20 years. Many people view

Stockton as the best pure point guard in NBA history. Stockton

holds the career record for assists and steals, both by wide

margins. Stockton was the epitome of durable, missing just 22

games in his 19-year Hall of Fame career. Stockton’s 3-pointer

at the buzzer to defeat the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the

1997 Western Conference finals was perhaps the most

memorable moment in franchise history as it vaulted the Jazz

into the NBA Finals. 

Stockton was a 10-time All-Star, NBA All-Star game MVP in

1993 and 11-time All NBA (two as a first-teamer). Stockton

was NBA All-Defensive second-team on five occasions, led

the NBA in assists nine times and led the NBA in steals twice.

Stockton led the Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals

appearances in 1997 and 1998. In his career, Stockton

averaged a double-double with 13.1 points and 10.5 assists

per game.

Shooting guard: Pete Maravich

Maravich, known as “Pistol Pete,” is one of the best outside

shooters in NBA history before the 3-point line era, which came

into existence during his final two seasons in the NBA. Maravich

played for the Jazz mostly during the New Orleans era.

Maravich was an excellent all-around guard with his shooting

and passing ability. The Jazz did not make the playoffs in

Maravich’s six seasons but he belongs in the starting lineup.

Maravich was a five-time All-Star and four-time All NBA (two as

a first-teamer). He was the NBA scoring champion in 1977. With

the Jazz, Maravich averaged 25.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4

assists per game.

Small forward: Adrian Dantley

Choosing Dantley as the starter was a no-brainer because he is

the only All-Star level small forward the franchise has ever had.

The Jazz have had six players average over 30 points per game,

Dantley had four of those seasons. Though the Jazz only made

the playoffs twice in Dantley seven seasons, he was a highly

productive player.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Dantley was a six-time

All-Star and two-time scoring champion. He averaged 24.3 points

per game and 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 

Power forward: Karl Malone

Malone was known as “The Mailman” for his ability to consistently

deliver with clutch performances. Malone is also considered by

many the best power forward in NBA history. Though Malone was

a very physical player in the low-post, over the years he

developed into a consistent perimeter shooter. Malone is No. 2

in NBA history in total points behind Los Angeles Lakers’ legend

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Malone helped guide the Jazz two

consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998 on the

way to a Hall of Fame career.

Malone holds various NBA records and was a two-time NBA

MVP, 14-time All-Star, two-time NBA All-Star game MVP and

14-time All-NBA selection (11 as a first-teamer), four-time NBA

All Defensive first-team. In his 19-year career, Malone averaged

25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. 

Center: Rudy Gobert

Gobert and Mark Eaton are similar players in that their game is

defensive-minded. They also have similar resumes but what

gives Gobert, who is currently in his seventh season in the NBA,

the nod is that he has become a more offensively inclined player

than Eaton ever was. Because of his 7-foot-1 frame and 7-9

wingspan, the French-born Hobert is known as “The Stifle

Tower.”

Gobert earned his first All-Star appearance in 2020 and has

twice made All-NBA, once as a second-teamer and another

time as a third-team choice. Gobert is also a two-time NBA

Defensive Player of the Year and three-time NBA All Defensive

first team. He was the NBA blocked shot leader in 2017. Gobert

is averaging 11.7 points and 11.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocked

shots for his career but has averaged at least 13.5 points and

each of the past four seasons. 

Bench (alphabetical order)

Thurl Bailey: Bailey was a starter for the Jazz for much of his

first two seasons but with the franchise drafting Malone, Bailey

ended up being one of the Jazz top options off the bench and

he enjoyed many productive years in that role. After eight

seasons with the Jazz from 1983-1991, Bailey played for the

Minnesota Timberwolves for three years along with playing in

Greece and Italy before returning to the Jazz in the 1998-1999

season. In his NBA career Bailey averaged 12.8 points per

game and was NBA All Rookie first team in 1984.

Carlos Boozer: Three of Boozer's seven seasons with the

Jazz were shortened by injuries but his time was still impactful

enough to earn a spot on this roster. Both of Boozer's All-Star

seasons in his career came as a member of the Jazz. He was

All NBA third team in 2008. As a member of the Jazz, Boozer

averaged 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Mark Eaton: At 7-4, Eaton is one of the tallest players in NBA

history. Eaton holds the NBA record for most blocks in a season

(456) and career average blocked shots per game at 3.50.

Eaton played his entire career with the Utah Jazz. Eaton

recorded 3,064 block shots, at the time of retirement No. 2

behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Eaton was an All-Star in 1989

and was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, four-time

leader in blocked shots and five-time NBA All Defensive team

(three as a first-teamer). 

Darrell Griffith: Griffith’s arrival coincided with the franchise

having moved from New Orleans along with transition from

the Pete Maravich era. Griffin and Dantley formed an

outstanding scoring duo. Griffith was the NBA Rookie of the

Year in 1981 and NBA all-rookie first team. For his career,

Griffith averaged 16.2 points per game and over 20 points in

four of his first five seasons with the Jazz. The arrival of

Stockton and Malone made him more of a role player.

Gordon Hayward: Hayward, who was now a Boston Celtic,

played for the Jazz for seven seasons. After the departure

of Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson during the 2013 season,

Hayward became the Jazz most prominent weapon.

Hayward's lone All Star season was his final one in Utah in

2017. As a member of the Jazz, Hayward averaged 15.7,

4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. 

Jeff Hornacek: Hornacek played for three different teams

but his career was most synonymous with the Jazz.

Hornacek became the perfect complement to Stockton and

Malone. He was excellent moving without the ball and also

one of the best free throw shooters in NBA history. Hornacek

was instrumental in the Jazz reaching back-to-back NBA

Finals appearances in 1997 and 98. With the Jazz, Hornacek

averaged 14.4 points, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

Andrei Kirilenko: Kirilenko was nicknamed “AK-47” in

reference to his initials, combined with his jersey number and

the rifle. After Stockton retired and Malone left for one season

for the Los Angeles Lakers, Kirilenko became the face of the

franchise. Kirilenko played 10 seasons with the Jazz and was

an All-Star in 2004, NBA All-Defensive first team in 2008 and

led the NBA in blocked shots in 2005. Kirilenko averaged 12.4

points 5.6 rebounds. 

Mehmet Okur: Okur spent seven productive seasons with

the Jazz after his first two with the Detroit Pistons. The Turkish

born Okur played a mixture of power forward and center

throughout his career and was nicknamed “The Money Man”

and “Memo is Money” among Jazz fans for his ability to make

crucial shots. Okur was an All-Star in 2007 and averaged

15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds in his career in Utah.

Deron Williams: Williams spent six very productive seasons

with the Utah Jazz. His lone All-Star season with the Jazz

came in 2007. That season the Jazz advanced to the Western

Conference Finals losing to the eventual NBA champion San

Antonio Spurs. With Utah, Williams averaged 15.3 points per

game, 7.6 rebounds. 

Head coach: Jerry Sloan. 

This choice takes about a nanosecond to make. Sloan is not

only the best coach in Utah Jazz history but one of the best

ever in the NBA despite not having delivered a championship.

The Hall of Famer compiled 1,127 regular-season and 96

more in the postseason. If not for Michael Jordan's Bulls, the

Jazz more than likely would have delivered a championship.

To be fair, the Bulls prevented a lot of Hall of Famers from

winning championships. Despite all of his victories, Sloan

was never the recipient of NBA Coach of the Year. Beyond

victories, Sloan fostered a no-nonsense mentality when it

came to establishing a culture with the Utah Jazz.

Team: 1997-1998.

It's a close battle between 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 but

the ladder gets the nod. The former won 64 regular-season

games while the ladder won 62.  Both teams lost 4-2 to the

Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals but the 1997-1998 version

had the best chance to knock off the bulls having secured

home court advantage in the NBA finals and beating the

Chicago Bulls twice in the regular season. Both squads

featured pretty much the same cast of characters with

Malone, Stockton, Hornacek and Bryon Russell.