Utah Jazz guards Ochai Agbaji, left, and Collin Sexton speak to members of the media throughout a press convention on the Zions Financial institution Basketball Campus in Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Utah Jazz guards Ochai Agbaji, left, and Collin Sexton speak to members of the media throughout a press convention on the Zions Financial institution Basketball Campus in Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
New Utah Jazz gamers Collin Sexton and Ochai Agbaji have solely been in Utah for every week, however they’re already making the most of what the state has to supply.
Sexton and Agbaji have been climbing and taking in Utah’s pure magnificence.
“It was good. (The hike) was like 20 minutes away, which is loopy. You may drive 20 minutes and also you’re already in someplace that’s so stunning,” Agbaji stated.
Agbaji, who gained a nationwide championship with Kansas in April and was named the MVP of the NCAA Event, isn’t in Kansas anymore.
“It’s not like Kansas, clearly. I’m used to only flat plains, however you stroll exterior and also you get a pleasant mountain view in every single place you look, mainly. So it’s it’s been good. All the time been in a great temper, simply good vibes, good vitality,” Agbaji stated.
Sexton can be having fun with the Utah vistas.
“I'd say the mountains is one thing that I by no means actually paid consideration to. So it’s form of cool to see the great views and simply watch the dawn and the sundown as effectively,” Sexton stated.
On Saturday, Sexton took in Utah soccer’s sport towards Southern Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Sexton and Agbaji are already getting acquainted with the group, together with new head coach Will Hardy.
“Yesterday was capable of catch up. He’s understanding that we’re gonna be younger, however he additionally understands prefer it’s gonna be enjoyable and I can’t wait to only be coached by him simply cuz his vitality and the way he, he talks to us and the way he’s so uplifted and the way he has excessive spirits each day,” Sexton stated “That rubs off on all people within the constructing as effectively.”
“I'd say all people within the group, all people within the constructing has actual good vitality. And he’ll (Agbaji) attest to you that each day we’ve been right here has been enjoyable. It’s positively been enjoyable, however we’ve been placing in work for positive.”
Sexton and Agbaji each got here to Utah from Cleveland as a part of the Donovan Mitchell commerce, together with Lauri Markkanen, who's presently enjoying in EuroBasket 2022.
Sexton has 4 years of NBA expertise beneath his belt. He performed simply 11 video games final yr for the Cavaliers earlier than struggling a torn left meniscus, which ended his season early.
“It’s form of cool to see the great views and simply watch the dawn and the sundown as effectively.” — Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard was coming off one of the best season of his profession previous to the damage, averaging 24.3 factors, 3.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per sport in 2020-21.
Now, he says he's 100% wholesome.
Sexton arrived in Utah through a sign-and-trade deal. He signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension that may maintain him in Utah by the 2025-26 season.
“I simply know my agent was just about simply telling me simply to remain affected person and the whole lot will work out now we be enjoying whether or not it was in Cleveland or one other staff, I shall be carrying an NBA jersey. In order that was just about my mindset. I simply needed to only proceed to work on the issues that I wanted to enhance on and I let the remaining deal with itself,” Sexton stated.
Agbaji was drafted by the Cavaliers with the 14th general choose within the 2022 draft earlier than being traded to the Jazz on Sep. 1.
“After I first came upon in regards to the commerce, it was simply form of my, like welcome to the NBA second. I didn’t play a single sport, a single minute of NBA motion and I have already got been traded,” Agbaji stated. “So I simply see it nearly as good alternative, wherever the place I had ended up, I feel would’ve been a great alternative for me and I’m gonna make one of the best of it, however I’m excited to be right here.”
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard averaged 18.8 factors and 5.1 rebounds for Kansas final season and scored 12 factors in Kansas’ 72-69 win over North Carolina within the NCAA championship sport.
“Simply taking it day-to-day, controlling what we will management day-to-day, so far as working laborious constructing a great tradition round this, in a approach, new group, new entrance workplace, new gamers, all that. So simply constructing a brand new tradition rising the tradition that the fellows right here in Utah initially had and pushing that ahead,” Agbaji stated.
Utah Jazz guards Ochai Agbaji, left, and Collin Sexton speak to members of the media throughout a press convention on the Zions Financial institution Basketball Campus in Salt Lake Metropolis on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information