Utah Jazz: Grades for every Jazzman’s 2017-18 season

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz stands for the National Anthem before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Royce O’Neale has been as good of story as any on this Jazz squad.

In limited early-season minutes, O’Neale showed his potential to Snyder and his staff. As the season went on, he continued to make his case for a role in Utah’s rotation.

Despite showing flashes on offense, O’Neale’s real brilliance has been on the defensive end.

Having a defensive stopper like O’Neale should come up huge in a playoff series that features Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.