Former Utah Jazz PG Trey Burke: ‘No one wants to play there’
By Ryan Aston
Just days after the Utah Jazz lost All-Star Gordon Hayward, the team’s former starting point guard Trey Burke took it upon himself to kick the organization and its fans while they’re down.
As far as bad weeks go, the last seven days are right up there with the worst in Utah Jazz history. Following a five-year plan to rebuild the franchise around him, Gordon Hayward bolted for Boston right as the Jazz band had begun to play sweet music. What’s more, his (in)decision played out in such a way as to prevent the team from finding a suitable replacement.
So, as one might expect, the fanbase in Utah is feeling down and out. Emotions are running high and the Twittersphere is flush with people looking for an outlet for their frustrations. In other words, the perfect time to take shots at the team and/or the state of Utah, according to embattled former Jazzman Trey Burke.
In response to a series of tweets about Hayward’s exit (from the account of Jedi & J.E.R.M.S. on the Jazz, a must-listen podcast for Jazz fans), Burke offered up this gem —
https://twitter.com/TreyBurke/status/884177061924839424
“Lol no I’m just afraid no one wants to play there.” was his appraisal of the situation. This is just the latest in a string of strange comments from Burke about his former basketball home. Late last year, he claimed the Jazz tried to break him.
“That’s what they tried to do. They couldn’t break me though,” said Burke. “They gave me DNPs, everybody asked me what’s going on, why you aren’t playing; there’s a reason everybody asked me that.”
Never mind the fact that he was essentially given the keys to the car as a rookie. Or the reality that he was also given more NBA minutes during his time with the Jazz than he’ll likely get anywhere else for the remainder of his pro career.
Of course, the Jazz aren’t the only ones Burke has tried to throw under the bus as he’s failed to live up to the hype. He also claimed that his alma mater served him “jail food” and didn’t prepare him for the next level.
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Leave it to Burke to make a bad situation worse; that was often his role when he played for Utah. The same could be said for his contributions to the Washington Wizards back-up point guard situation.
Burke averaged a career low 5.0 points and 1.8 assists per game last season and failed to score in three playoff games. When he was on the floor, the Wiz were 13 points per 100 possessions worse than when he sat. They also allowed more than 108 points per 100 possessions when he played.
As a result, Washington elected not to tender a qualifying offer to Burke, whom they acquired for nothing more than a second-round pick.
But we feel ya, Trey. Utah is clearly the problem.