Utah Jazz ahead Kelly Olynyk, left, guard Talen Horton-Tucker, heart, and guard Collin Sexton speak throughout a timeout as Utah and Denver play at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn fives a fan after victory over Denver at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Dunn was named to the G League’s All-Defensive Group on Thursday. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
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Previous to changing into Utah Jazz teammates, Collin Sexton didn’t know that Lauri Markkanen had a spouse and two kids.
“In Cleveland, it was a little bit totally different. Right here I really feel prefer it’s extra household oriented. We do loads of household actions — everybody’s wives and girlfriends are at all times like collectively and stuff. You may inform right here is like actual household oriented and I positively like that.” — Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton
You is likely to be pondering the identical factor I assumed after I first heard that. Wait ... weren’t these guys teammates in Cleveland? How did he not know?!
Properly, there are a few causes. First, the 2 solely performed in eight video games collectively for the Cavaliers. Sexton went out with a meniscus tear in his left knee after simply 11 video games within the 2021-22 season. However earlier than that, Markkanen was away from the crew in well being and security protocols.
After Markkanen returned to the crew, Sexton was out indefinitely, having simply had surgical procedure to restore his torn meniscus. A rehabbing participant who can’t even do on-court exercise isn’t going to have a ton of interplay with the gamers who're on the court docket each evening.
However there was additionally one thing else.
“I didn’t know Lauri had a household and youngsters,” Sexton mentioned, laughing from some slight embarrassment. “In Cleveland, it was a little bit totally different. Right here I really feel prefer it’s extra household oriented. We do loads of household actions — everybody’s wives and girlfriends are at all times like collectively and stuff. You may inform right here is like actual household oriented and I positively like that.”
The Jazz have put in a ton of effort to permit new head coach Will Hardy to create his personal tradition for the crew, not solely on the court docket however off it as properly. From the highest of the group to the underside, the Jazz need everybody to really feel like they’re a part of a household.
“They’ve completed some stuff in earlier organizations I’ve been in however from what I’ve heard from my spouse, it looks like they’re doing stuff on a regular basis right here,” Markkanen mentioned. “The group takes actually excellent care of them and also you’re simply seeing children working within the hallways on a regular basis. It’s a fairly cool setting to be in — to see everyone coming collectively and doing stuff collectively. I do know my spouse has been completely satisfied right here. So yeah, positively looks like they’re doing extra.”
Hardy has pressured all season that constructing belief shortly was going to be vital for this Jazz crew, and plainly to be able to assist construct chemistry and familiarity, the Jazz went past the roster.
New with the Jazz
This week in Jazz historical past
On April 15, 1995, Utah’s Tom Chambers scored 15 factors within the Jazz’s 105-83 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, changing into the twentieth participant in NBA historical past to surpass 20,000 profession factors. With teammate Karl Malone having reached the 20,000-point plateau in opposition to Cleveland on Jan. 20, 1995, Utah grew to become the primary crew in NBA historical past to have two gamers attain 20,000 profession factors throughout the identical season.
This week on ‘Unsalvageable’
Try “Unsalvageable,” hosted by Deseret Information Utah Jazz beat reporter Sarah Todd and lifelong Jazz fan Greg Foster (no, not that Greg Foster).
This week the crew welcomes Utah Jazz heart Damian Jones to the pod to debate his love of nationwide parks, his season with the Jazz, and what might be subsequent for him. New episodes come out each week. You may pay attention on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anyplace else you stream podcasts.
Stat of the week
Jazz guard Kris Dunn, who got here to the Jazz after taking part in with the G League’s Capital Metropolis Go-Go this season, was named to the G League’s All-Defensive crew on Thursday. Dunn was main the G League in steals by means of many of the season, ending with 2.5 per recreation and solely failing to qualify because the league chief due to his late-season call-up to the Jazz on a 10-day contract, the place he ultimately signed for the remainder of the season. Dunn additionally recorded 16.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per recreation on the season.
From the archives
Further factors
- Jazz plan to maintain Kelly Olynyk, await selections on participant choices (Deseret Information)
- Newest with Rudy Gobert reveals how a lot issues have modified for the Jazz (Deseret Information)
- NBA tanking: Is there any approach to cease it? (Deseret Information)
- Tribune’s Andy Larsen shares his NBA awards poll (Salt Lake Tribune)
Across the league
Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins cleared for Recreation 1 of the NBA playoffs.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant recordsdata countersuit in opposition to teen.
Sacramento’s Mike Brown voted Coach of the Yr by coaches affiliation.
Up Subsequent
Full NBA playoffs schedule right here.
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn fives a fan after victory over Denver at Vivint Enviornment in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Dunn was named to the G League’s All-Defensive Group on Thursday.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information