Jazz open 50th franchise season Wednesday night against Kings
Oct 25, 2023, 3:22 PM | Updated: 3:30 pm
(Adam Small/KSL NewsRadio)
(Adam Small/KSL NewsRadio)
🔊 Join us throughout Wednesday afternoon for our live interviews 👇 with Jazz officials ahead of the team’s season opener against Sacramento!
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz are getting ready to host the first game of the 2023-2024 NBA season Wednesday night, marking the beginning of their 50th year as a franchise.
The Jazz have high hopes after falling shy of a playoff berth in 2022-2023. It was the first year after stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were traded. Also, several key players sustained injuries.
If you took a chance on a named jersey from the team store last year, the good news is it’s likely not out of date this year. The Jazz brought back the majority of their team from last year, including All-Star Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Walker Kessler.
New Jazz players
But this year the spotlight will be on the team’s three new rookies: Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh, who were all selected in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft.
Jazz President Jim Olson told KSL NewsRadio he’s excited to see what they have to offer at the NBA level.
“They were all first-round picks for a reason,” Olson said. “They can play…and we’re excited to see what they can do.”
In the offseason, the Jazz also acquired John Collins from Atlanta, who could make an impact under the basket with sophomore Kessler.
When it comes to a playoff run, Olson said it’s always the goal. Markkanen said earlier this month it’s driving them as a team.
Olson seemed confident in the direction of the team and the decisions made by Jazz Executive Danny Ainge and General Manager Justin Zanik. Olson described Ainge as “the best in the business.” He’s well-known for helping the Boston Celtics win an NBA Championship in 2008 and for drafting a treasure trove of young talent, making the team competitors year-after-year.
Nifty at 50
Olson said fans can expect a good product on the hardwood of the newly rebranded Delta Center.
“What they’re going to get to watch is a fun and exciting team that has a great opportunity to become a very good team in the NBA,” Olson said.
Tipoff between the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center is at 7 p.m. Tuesday or hear the game live on KSL NewsRadio.
“It’s going to be a fun team to watch,” Olson said. “You think about all our draft picks . . . the future’s bright.”
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