The J-Notes
Fansided

Counting down the Top 5 (ish) power forwards in Utah Jazz history

By Ryan Aston

1997-1998: Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. (Photo by Icon Sportswire)
1997-1998: Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /
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Utah Jazz Thurl Bailey
TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 2: Thurl Bailey #41 of the Utah Jazz rebounds against the Phoenix Suns during a game played on November 2, 1990 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4) Thurl Bailey

Without question, ‘Big T’ Thurl Bailey was a star in the league and a crucial piece to the Jazz for nearly a decade. Bailey probably would have started for most of the league’s other teams throughout the ’80s, but ended up playing second fiddle to arguably the greatest power forward of all-time instead.

Nevertheless, the man in the goggles was a cornerstone piece to the Jazz as they transitioned from bottom-feeders to title contenders.

Big T enjoyed back-to-back seasons during which he averaged nearly 20 points per game (19.5 and 19.6 ppg in 1987-88 and ’88-89 respectively) and in 708 games in a Jazz uniform, he put up 14 points and nearly six rebounds per game.

Following a trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the early 90s, Big T returned to finish his career with Utah during the 1998-99 season.

To this day, he’s a pillar of the community in Utah and he continues to be involved with the Jazz organization.

Utah Jazz Stats: 708 GP, 14.0 PTS, 5.5 REB, 1.2 BLK

Next: Paul Millsap is No. 3