The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz rank: The top 10 international players in team history

By Ryan Aston

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 5: the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Orlando Magicon March 5, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 5: the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Orlando Magicon March 5, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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2007 NBA Playoffs Golden State Warriors Stephen Jackson Gordan Giricek Utah Jazz
OAKLAND – MAY 13: Stephen Jackson #1 of the Golden State Warriors fights for position against Gordan Giricek #10 of the Utah Jazz in Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena May 13, 2007 in Oakland, California. Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7) Gordan Giricek, G/F — Croatia

To begin the ’03-04 season, a young DeShawn Stevenson was the starting shooting guard for Utah. And while he was a great athlete, an improved shooter and had raised his scoring to over 11 points per game, he didn’t pack the punch offensively that the Jazz needed. So, then-GM Kevin O’Connor swapped him for Gordan Giricek.

The 6-foot-6 wing was a hit initially. He stepped right into Stevenson’s old spot and closed the year scoring over 13 points per game and hitting 36 percent of his triples. Unfortunately, that 25-game stretch probably represents the high-water mark of his Jazz career.

Giricek suffered lapses defensively, clashed with Jerry Sloan at times and even became inconsistent shooting the ball.

Still, he spent more than four years in Utah and was usually an important part of the rotation, not to mention one of the NBA’s better deep threats over that span. Giri was also the player that netted the Jazz Kyle Korver via trade, so kudos to him for that.

After leaving Utah, he got choked out by Shaquille O’Neal. Cool.

Jazz stats: 226 GP (104 starts), 8.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, .442 FG%, .373 3P%

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