Utah Jazz news from around the web, including–Deron Williams and son profiled by NBPA.com, Gordon Hayward up for an award and the LHM Day of Service.
Former Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams is a polarizing figure for Jazz fans. Even today, five years after he was traded to the Nets, some consider him one of the great villains in Jazz lore. Whether or not he deserves the scorn (he doesn’t), here’s a D-Will story we can all get behind.
April is National Awareness Month and Williams is father to an autistic child; his six-year-old son, D.J., was diagnosed at 18-months back in 2011. Their relationship was chronicled in a feature by Jared Zwerling for the National Basketball Players Association on Wednesday.
In the piece, Zwerling recounts a story about D.J. making a special trip to the Dallas Mavericks locker room to watch the rest of Game 4 of the team’s first-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder after Williams aggravated a sports hernia. The injury would inevitably end Williams’ season.
D.J.’s visit helped ease the tension in what had been a difficult time for the three-time All-Star.
Say what you will about Williams–if you’ve followed this site in the past, you know he’s still my guy–the former Jazzman shares a special relationship with his son and has done great work for autistic children and their families, hosting events and donating his time and money to the betterment of their lives.
From NBPA.com–
"Inspired by D.J., for the third straight year Williams hosted Autism Awareness Night during a game—this time at American Airlines Center earlier this month. In support of his foundation, he partnered up with a couple of season-ticket holders to donate their suites for families with autistic children. The idea was to give them a safe environment to watch the game away from the crowd of fans. Afterward, Williams mingled with them and posed for pictures."
Williams tells the NBPA that D.J. has made tremendous strides in recent years, interacting more with other children. He’s also become more intrigued by Williams’ exploits on the hardwood.
It’s a great story and a welcome respite from the doldrums of the early summer in Jazzland. Check it out — Raising an Autistic Child, Deron Williams Discovers New Hope During National Awareness Month
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- Former Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay is a free agent still and it shouldn’t surprise anyone
Vote for Gordon Hayward
Jazz wing Gordon Hayward is among the four nominees for Pro-Olympian Male Athlete of the Year at the Governor’s State of Sport Award this year. The team is encouraging fans to vote for Hayward; online voting is underway and individuals are able to cast votes once every 24 hours.
You can vote for Hayward here. Voting ends at midnight on May 3.
Other nominees include world champion alpine skier Ted Ligety, former BYU player and current Detroit Lions Pro-Bowl defensive end Ziggy Ansah and PGA Tour golfer Tony Finau. Awards will be presented on Tuesday, May 10 at an event at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
We need to get this done, Jazz fans, if for no other reason than to keep the award out of the hands of a former Cougar. Go Utes!
Next: Miller Group Sells KJZZ-TV
LHM Day of Service Highlights
Finally, April 26 was the annual Larry H. Miller Day of Service. Held each year on the late Jazz owner’s birthday, employees of the Utah Jazz and the Miller Group of Companies participate in acts of charity and community service to commemorate the day and honor Miller’s legacy of service.
Here are highlights of just one of the projects undertaken by Miller employees from the Neighborhood House of Salt Lake City–
Several Jazz employees were on hand at Neighborhood House, including team president Steve Starks and radio play-by-play man David Locke, who put this photo out on Instagram–
Keep up the good work, gang.