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Utah Jazz Notes: Alumni Program Featured, Zanik Interviewing with Bucks

By Ryan Aston

Mar 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Former Utah Jazz player Andrei Kirilenko talks with the media prior to the game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Kirilenko is to honored during the game for his time with the Utah Jazz organization. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Former Utah Jazz player Andrei Kirilenko talks with the media prior to the game between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Kirilenko is to honored during the game for his time with the Utah Jazz organization. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Your weekend dish of Utah Jazz news including a feature on the team’s alumni program, Justin Zanik interviewing with the Milwaukee Bucks and more.

Although the current iteration of the Utah Jazz is a young squad with its best days still ahead, the franchise boasts a rich history, wrought by a multitude of players. And while the team is undoubtedly focused on its promising future, that history and the players that contributed to it remain an important part of the franchise.

In an effort to honor the people who helped make the franchise what it is today by forging its storied past, the team formed an alumni program to keep tabs on former players and keep them involved with the organization.

Its motto–“Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman.”

Among its many endeavors was the ceremony to recognize the contributions of Andrei Kirilenko when the Jazz played the Los Angeles Lakers last March.

Aaron Falk chronicled the Jazz Alumni program, its origins and some of its efforts in a feature for The Salt Lake Tribune this weekend.

The alumni program is an important effort, both for the Jazz and the many players to suit up for the team. “These players, they need that,” said former Jazzman Thurl Bailey. “The organization needs that. They need to have their team to connect themselves to.”

Falk’s piece is definitely a must-read for Jazz fans. Check it out here.

Milwaukee Bucks to Interview Justin Zanik

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Milwaukee Bucks are set to interview Jazz assistant general manager Justin Zanik for a front office post this week. The Bucks are reportedly looking to add an individual to work with GM John Hammond

Rod Higgins, a former longtime NBA player who served as GM and president of basketball operations of the Charlotte Bobcats from 2007 to 2014 will also interview with Milwaukee.

Zanik, a former agent, has been an important cog in the Jazz front office machine since joining the team in 2013. He’s been involved in most aspects of the team’s basketball operations and has been running the show on the D-League front.

This Tuesday, he’ll join team president Steve Starks at the Hilton Midtown Hotel in Manhattan as one of the team’s representatives for the NBA Draft Lottery

Next: Looking Back at Each Era of Jazz Basketball

Jazz Donate Another Basketball Court

Rounding out your weekend dish is a story out of West Bountiful, Utah, where the team officially opened another community court on Friday. Construction of the court was funded and supervised by the team and is the 12th completed Jazz court along the Wasatch Front.

The Jazz Bear, Jazz Dancers and officials from both the team and the city were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony and opening at West Bountiful City Park on 550 West Pages Lane. The Deseret News has an online photo gallery of the event here.

In the last 15 years, the Jazz and Larry H Miller Charities have funded or built 16 community courts.

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