Jazz by the Numbers, Part I

The franchise’s best #20 and best #15 celebrate after a big moment. (Rick Bowmer via espn.com)

Earlier this year, The Athletic ran a few features about the best player to wear different uniform numbers in the NBA. As we still have a few weeks to go before seeing competitive basketball again, I thought it would be fun to follow their lead and take a walk down memory lane with the best players to wear each uniform number for the Jazz, whether in Salt Lake City or New Orleans.

In Part 1 we will cover the first 25 (00 through 24).

The following list is a combination of my personal judgment and the wisdom of crowd (in the form of Twitter polls). For the most part, I defer to the players who got the most support from the crowd but on occasion, I overruled their judgment with my own. Without further ado…

00 – Greg Ostertag

“Double Zero” on the court with the late Larry Miller

Only three players have worn 00 for the Jazz. While I hope that Jordan Clarkson, who changed his number from 8 to 00 following the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, will some day surpass Tag’s accomplishments in the 00 uniform for the Jazz, there’s not really a good case for that right now. And all due respect to Slick Watts’ single season in New Orleans but Greg Ostertag has easily had the most fruitful career for the Jazz while wearing 00.

In 1998, Greg Ostertag was the subject of a great deal of ire from me but today I remember the big guy fondly. At this point, there’s little use wondering what would have happened if the trade for world-famous DJ Rony Seikaly had gone through. Ostertag spent 10 years of his 11-year NBA career in Utah and was a the starting center for the Jazz during the team’s two title runs in 1997 and 1998.

0 – Enes Kanter 

The third overall pick in 2011

From one legendary Jazz big to another, there wasn’t a lot of competition for the best player to wear 0 for the Jazz as only three players have ever worn the number for the Jazz. 2020 rookie Nigel Williams-Goss has only played 28 minutes in a Jazz uniform so far and as fondly as I remember Olden Polynice’s two years as the starting center for the Jazz, Kanter’s impact on the team during his four seasons in Utah was greater.

While his overall performance as a top-3 pick was ultimately disappointing and his exit from the Jazz was less than ideal, Kanter is one of the most vibrant personalities in the league and has made legitimate contributions in OKC, New York, Portland and Boston. Kanter’s social media is a joy and his personal story of exile from Turkey is inspiring.

2 – Joe Ingles

Ingles tops a nice crop at #2

A lot of memorable players have worn 2 for the Jazz. Derek Fisher’s short time with the team will never be forgotten by many. DeShawn Stevenson was the Jazz’s attempt to join in on the prep-to-pro fad that hit the NBA in the late 90s and early 2000s before he went on to play a key role on a title-winning Mavericks team. And yours truly was hoping for a reunion with Marvin Williams after he hit the buyout market earlier this year.

But none of those guys has had the impact, both on and off the court, that Joe Ingles has had. After the Clippers released Ingles in their 2014 training camp, the Jazz claimed Joe off of waivers and have never looked back. He is now one of the leaders in the Jazz locker room and has expanded his reach to being an advocate for autism awareness after his son Jacob was diagnosed with autism last year.

3 – Bryon Russell

Russell was an important part of the Finals teams.

In recent years the number 3 has been a symbol of the Jazz’s seemingly never-ending search for the next great point guard: Ricky Rubio, George Hill and Trey Burke all wore the number. But before starting point guards for the Jazz were like drummers for Spinal Tap, Bryon Russell wore the number.

While Russell will be remembered by most for his role as the defender against Michael Jordan in one of the most iconic shots in NBA history, Jazz fans will remember him as a key role player during the height of the team’s two title runs.

B-Russ spent nine years in Utah, during most of which he wore the number 3. As with some other long-time Jazzmen, he never ever wore a Lakers uniform….

4 – Adrian Dantley

AD was a bucket.

The question of who the greatest player to wear a number is becomes easier when the team has already answered the question by raising that number to the rafters in a player’s honor. AD is one of the best players to ever wear a Jazz uniform and he was undeniably the star of the team during his 7 seasons in Utah.

As has too often been the case with stars in Utah, AD’s time ended on a sour note with conflict between him and Frank Layden eventually leading to his trade to the Pistons and an infamous fine of $3.00 in dimes (30 silver pieces, the price Judas was paid for being a traitor).

AD was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and averaged 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while wearing a Jazz uniform. 

5 – Carlos Boozer

“And one!!”

I will always remember Rodney Hood’s time with the Jazz fondly. And I have pleasant memories of Mo Williams’ and Devin Harris’ short tenures with the Jazz. I am also very excited to see what is to come with 2020 rookie Jarrell Brantley. But in overall impact with the team, there’s no denying that Carlos Boozer is the best player to have worn 5 for the Jazz.

A younger me had hoped that Boozer and Williams would be the next iteration of Stockton and Malone. Those two had some great seasons together, but never quite attained the same heights as the guys who have the statues outside of Vivint Smart Home Arena. Nonetheless, Booze made two All-Star teams during his six years in Utah and helped lead the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2007.

6 – Joe Johnson

Seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson’s time with the Jazz was short but impactful. His role in winning the first round series against the Clippers in 2017 was one of the highlights of recent Jazz playoff history. And his willingness to sign with the Jazz in the 2016 offseason was a big deal in terms of the Jazz being able to attract high-tier players in free agency.

Other players to wear 6 for the Jazz include current rookie Rayjon Tucker, Howard Eisley for a single season and Jamaal Tinsley during his 3 years in Utah.

7 – Pete Maravich

The original Jazz player.

The first Jazz player ever, the expansion New Orleans Jazz traded for Pete Maravich as their first move as a team.  Pete Maravich’s NBA career never reached the heights that were promised during his college career. But his influence on the NBA and basketball in general is undeniable. At LSU, Pete scored more points than any other player in NCAA history without a 3-point line. To date, no other player has even approached his record.

Pete’s best years for the Jazz were in New Orleans and injuries severely limited his abilities after the team moved to Utah. Nonetheless, Pistol is one of the most important players to have worn a Jazz uniform. Interestingly, Pete continued to wear 44 (his college scoring average) when he first arrived to New Orleans before changing to 7. After leaving Utah, he returned to the number 44.

8 – Deron Williams

Two-time all-league guard Deron Williams

At his best, there was a legitimate argument that Deron Williams was the best point guard in the NBA. He made two All-Star teams in Utah and helped lead the Jazz to the 2007 Western Conference Finals. Williams was the next great Jazz point guard after John Stockton retired but his relationship with the team led to a messy split-up in 2011 and the early retirement of Jerry Sloan in one of the more traumatic seasons in Jazz fans’ memory.

In recent years, Williams and Sloan were able to bury the hatchet and Williams has a home in Park City and has made some appearances at Jazz games.

9 – Ronnie Brewer

Brewer played in 266 Jazz games, and started most of them.

The Jazz retired number 9, but not for Ronnie Brewer or John Starks, the only two Jazz players who have ever (or will ever) wear it. Following late owner Larry Miller’s death in 2009, the Jazz retired 9 in his honor. So, the choice is between Starks’ two late-career seasons with the Jazz and  Brewer’s four seasons; Brewer gets the nod here. A starter for the Jazz in 2008 and 2009, Brewer had some good performances with the Jazz and formed a tight relationship with Williams before being traded to Memphis for a 2011 first.

Williams was unhappy the Jazz traded away his close friend, contributing to his future departure from the team. The pick acquired in the deal was eventually traded along with Kosta Koufos and a 2012 first to the Timberwolves for Al Jefferson. The pick eventually was used by the Rockets to draft Donatas Motiejūnas, a player who would be rumored as a Jazz free-agent target years later.

10 – Howard Eisley

Eisley backed up a legend and almost gave the Jazz a home Game 7 in 1998.

It seems like the focus of the basketball world lately is all on the 1998 Finals and Howard Eisley played a key role on those Finals teams. While 10 wasn’t the only number Eisley would wear for the Jazz, it was the number he wore longest and that he had during the two Finals runs. For me, the most important memory of Eisley is that he is the man who hit the 3-pointer in Game 6 that eventually made the difference between winning and losing, leading the Jazz to a home court advantage in Game 7 against a Bulls team without Scottie Pippen whose back just wouldn’t let him play and the Jazz’s ultimate win of the only title in franchise history.  What’s that? Dick Bavetta waived off the three despite it leaving Eisley’s hands before the shot clock expired. Oh…

Anyhow, Eisley was a big contributor to the Jazz during their best runs. He spent six seasons with the Jazz and is deserving of recognition as the best 10 for the Jazz. Notably, every player to have worn 10 for the Jazz has had memorable runs. Many of us will always remember Gordan Giriček and Alec Burks fondly and fingers crossed that Mike Conley’s remaining time with the Jazz catapults him ahead of Eisley here.

11 – Earl Watson

Watson was a fan favorite in Utah.

I personally would say that Dante Exum’s longer tenure with the team and the expectations many had of him due to his high draft position is the more memorable and impactful 11, but I’ll defer to the crowd on this one. Watson is one of several former Jazzmen who have gone on to be a head coach in the NBA. During his 3 seasons in Utah, Watson was primarily the backup point-guard during a period when the Jazz weren’t accomplishing very much.

In the poll for best 11 in Jazz history, Watson and Jacque Vaughn tied for the most votes with Exum just behind. Vaughn also had several seasons as a mostly unremarkable backup point guard for the Jazz. Here’s hoping that we’ll have a really memorable 11 some time in the future.

12 – John Stockton

GOAT.

In my book, John Stockton is not only the best player to ever wear the number 12 for the Jazz but the best player to wear 12 in NBA history (unless you count Michael Jordan’s single game in that number) and the overall best player in Jazz history. There’s just no question about who gets the honor here. Stockton holds unbreakable records as the NBA’s all-time assists leader and all-time steals leader. A Hall-of-Famer, 11-time All-NBA and 5-time All-Defense player, along with Karl Malone, Stockton led the Jazz during the height of the franchise in the ’90s. 

13 – Mehmet Okur

Money!

The Money Man was a stretch five before the position was en vogue. He was an All-Star with the Jazz when the team made the Western Conference Finals in 2007 and continued to be a major part of the 2000s Jazz but he was never the same after tearing his Achilles’ tendon at the start of the 2010 NBA Playoffs. Still, Okur was a genuine threat from range, shooting .381 on 3-point shots during his seven seasons in Utah. 

Other players to wear 13 for the Jazz include current big Tony Bradley, Mark Jackson (ugh) and John Amaechi.

14 – Jeff Hornacek

Hornacek was the third star who vaulted Utah into contention.

Jeff Hornacek was the third star the Jazz needed to get over the hump and finally make the Finals, even if it took a few years following the 1994 trade that brought Hornacek to Utah in exchange for sending Jeff Malone to the 76ers. Hornacek would spend the last seven years of his career in Utah and provided a great third option to Stockton and Malone.

Honorable mention goes to Rickey Green, the starting point guard before Stockton. Green was an All-Star with the Jazz in 1984 and spent 8 productive seasons with the team.

15 – Derrick Favors

Favors is top 10 in franchise games played, rebounds, blocks and Win Shares.

Gone but not forgotten, Derrick Favors was a fan favorite during his time with the Jazz. Initially joining the team as part of the package sent by the Nets in return for Deron Williams, Favors spent 9 seasons with the Jazz and was always a consummate professional. Despite difficult injuries and having to find a way to share minutes with other bigs, Favors always did his job and served as a leader on the team. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Jazz test the waters at a potential reunion this offseason if the Pelicans are unwilling to offer more than the mid-level exception.

Another notable 15 in Jazz history is current Jazz color announcer Matt Harpring. Harpring was a valuable player on some good 2000s Jazz teams. Rockets GM Daryl Morey once said Harpring was the one player on his hated rival that he secretly wished was on his team.

Morey hated Harpring just enough to love him.

16 – Steve Novak

Novak wore 16 during a quick stop in Utah.

Novak played 109 total minutes in 22 games for the Jazz during the 2014-15 season. I’m not sure that he’s the best 16 in team history so far but there’s also not that much competition. To date, no player who has worn 16 on the Jazz has played for more than one season. It will not take very much for 2020 rookie Juwan Morgan to take the title of best 16 in Jazz history away from Novak and given the front office’s optimism about Morgan’s game, I hope he will do even more than that.

17 – Ronnie Price

A sparkplug and local hero, Price had a nice run in Utah.

While his time with the Jazz was mostly unremarkable, Ronnie Price has played 81% (2849) of the total minutes played by a player wearing the number 17 for the Jazz (3500). Given that he also played his college ball locally, Ronnie is the easy choice for best 17 in Jazz history.

18 – Pace Mannion

Nice ‘stache, Pace.

Remember Pace Mannion? He was a star player for the Utes before he joined the NBA. Eventually he joined the Jazz where he played marginal minutes over two seasons back in the 80s. Today his son, Nico, is a projected first round pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Anyhow, he’s the best 18 in Jazz history, probably. 

19 – Raja Bell

Bell was a 3-and-D specialist during two eras of Jazz hoops.

Only two players have worn 19 for the Jazz and considering that Patrick Christopher only played a few minutes coming off the bench in four games before he was cut, Raja Bell is clearly the answer here. Raja played four total seasons with the Jazz in two separate stints. He was always a valuable contributor whether starting or coming off the bench.

Getting Raja to return to the Jazz back in 2010 was deemed a real coup, as he had been pursued by the Lakers as well in free agency. But Raja signed on to a team coached by Sloan and featuring Williams. Once the Ty Corbin era started, Bell found it difficult to know where he fit in.

20 – Gordon Hayward

Hayward rose to All-Star status as a Jazz forward.

At the end of the 2017 season, everything was about Gordon Hayward. The Jazz hoped that their star small forward would choose to stay after receiving All-Star accolades and tasting playoff success against the Clippers before being manhandled by the Warriors in the 2nd round. Gordon Hayward chose to move on to greener uniforms and the Jazz found their new star in Donovan Mitchell but Hayward’s years in Utah were very good. There’s no question he is the best player to wear 20 for the Jazz.

Honorable mention to Bobby Hansen who also spent seven seasons with the Jazz in the 80s, many of them as the starting shooting guard.

21 – David Benoit

A key player during the Jazz’s rise to legitimacy.

David Benoit’s not one of the names that usually comes up when talking about how an Achilles’ tear affected a career, but he was pretty productive as the Jazz starting small forward in 1994-95 and most of 1995-96. After losing his starting job to Chris Morris at the end of the ’96 season, Benoit decided to sign with Morris’ former team, the Nets but suffered and Achilles tear in the offseason. Benoit was never as productive afterward and returned to Utah for a sixth season with the Jazz in 2000-01 before ending his NBA career. 

Also considered was Truck Robinson, who spent less than 2 full seasons with the New Orleans Jazz. One of the few standouts from the team’s time in New Orleans, Truck averaged 22.7 points and 15.7 rebounds during his All-Star year with the Jazz in 1977-78. It’s hard to find the rationale behind the New Orleans Jazz trading their best player to the Suns the next year but they received two young players in Ron Lee and Marty Byrnes as well as a 1979 first round pick, a 1980 first round pick and undisclosed cash. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the cash was the most important part of the deal to the struggling franchise.

22 – Nate Williams

Williams averaged 12.3 points per game for the Jazz in New Orleans.

As a proud owner of a Thabo Sefolosha number 22 jersey, I want to go with the wisdom of the crowd and anoint him as the best 22 in team history. But unless I restrict  this exercise to players who played in Utah instead of considering the New Orleans Jazz, Thabo’s one and a half seasons as a deep rotation player on the Jazz does not compare to Nate Williams’ 4 years in New Orleans. Plus, if we are looking for ties to Utah, Nate was a star player at Utah State before he was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals with the first pick in the 1971 hardship draft. In case you were unfamiliar with the Hardship Draft; before Nate Thurmond won a lawsuit against the NBA, only college graduates could be drafted. Thurmond won his case after the 1971 draft was held so the NBA held a subsequent hardship draft for teams who wanted to draft the newly draft-eligible undergraduates.

Among other notable players to wear the number 22 for the Jazz, before the Knicks and before the Hall of Fame, Bernard King played 19 games for the Jazz back in 1980.

23 – Royce O’Neale

Another current Jazzman makes the list.

After Hayward departed in 2017, one of the less heralded signings by the Jazz was Royce O’Neale, who had spent a few years in Europe after finishing his college career for Baylor. While a less heralded pick-up than Mitchell, Royce has been instrumental in the Jazz maintaining their competitiveness after a major free agent departure. Now a regular starter and one of the better “3-and-D” players in the league, Royce has earned his place as the top 23 in franchise history.

Among other notable 23s, Aaron James played 4 years for the Jazz in New Orleans, I remember Ty Corbin’s time as a player more fondly than his time as a coach and despite a short tenure in Utah, Wesley Matthews left an impact.

24 – Paul Millsap

A late second-round pick turned NBA All-Star.

Paul Millsap spent his first 7 seasons in Salt Lake before going on to Atlanta and making four straight All-Star appearances. An unfortunate casualty of a rebuilding team, Millsap nonetheless made a big impact on the Jazz in his seven years, including three season as the full-time starter. Millsap’s current role is an under-recognized part of the Nuggets’ recent success.

Shout-out to the other Malone in Jazz history. Jeff Malone was an important part of the early 90s Jazz before he was traded for Hornacek. Another notable player to wear 24 for the Jazz was the inimitable Ron Boone, the only player to have played for both the Utah Jazz and the Utah Stars. Now a color commentator for the Jazz, Boone helped lead the Stars to the 1971 ABA title.

That is part one. We’ll be back with the best players to wear #25 through #99.