Utah Jazz Notes: Gordon never called Gail, Ty Corbin update

Your scoop of the latest Utah Jazz news including Gordon Hayward never calling Gail Miller, Tyrone Corbin’s new coaching gig and more!

Although the biggest news stories surrounding the Utah Jazz right now are their recent draft selection of Grayson Allen, their three nominees for Monday’s NBA Awards Show and the impending free agency period, there are plenty of other exciting tidbits circling the team. The first of these is one that might not make Jazz fans all that happy, but is intriguing to know nonetheless.

Gordon never called Gail

Following last summer’s Gordon Hayward fiasco in which the former Jazzman left the team that drafted him out to dry in exchange for the Boston Celtics, one of the biggest critiques about how he handled the situation was that he didn’t communicate well with owner Gail Miller.

In fact, it was rumored that he never called her at all, neither to let her know his intentions, nor to thank her for all that she and the organization had done for him. On countless social media posts across all platforms, the words “Call Gail” could be seen almost incessantly from salty Jazz fans.

Well, it would seem that we recently got some closure on the matter of whether or not Gordon finally manned up and made the call. Unfortunately, it would seem that the answer is no.

In a recent Cox and Friends podcast, in which Utah Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox and his wife Abby visited with Jazz owner Gail Miller and her husband Kim Wilson, Miller was asked the very question of whether or not Hayward ever called. Here’s what she had to say in response–

"“He never did call me. But I called him. Well, I didn’t call, I texted. We had some good words, and there’s no animosity.”"

So there you have it Jazz fans. Good on Gail for being the bigger person and reaching out to Hayward herself and for ending the relationship between team and former player with no animosity. Let’s just say, I’m not sure that Jazz fans will have that same lack of animosity the next time Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics come to play at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Donovan Mitchell nominated for ESPY Award

The NBA Rookie of the Year debate has been one of the most heated in The Association this past season. Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons are far and away the two front runners, and there have been countless arguments over which one truly deserves the nod.

We won’t have to wait much longer to find out as the NBA Awards Show will be held this Monday. However, it appears that Mitchell and Simmons’ battle for recognition won’t end there. Both rookie phenoms have been nominated for this year’s ESPY Award for Best Breakout Athlete.

They’re joined by NFL player Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints and tennis standout Sloane Stephens. The ESPN Awards Show will be held on July 18 at 6:00 PM MT at which time we’ll find out if Donovan Mitchell can steal the award from Simmons, just as he did the NBA Players’ Voice Award for best rookie season.

While Simmons may very well win the Rookie of the Year Award, I like Mitchell’s chances for Best Breakout Athlete given that his rise to stardom essentially came out of nowhere and caught everyone off guard. Going from a relative unknown to a star on a playoff team fits the breakout bill perfectly.

Then again, with two exceptional nominees in both Kamara and Stephens, it’s perfectly feasible that the award could find itself landing outside of the NBA’s ranks.

Tyrone Corbin added to Orlando Magic staff

Former Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin didn’t enjoy the success he might have hoped as the lead man in Salt Lake City. Nevertheless, I think Jazz Nation would agree that he was a stand-up guy that deserves nothing but the best.

He’s apparently making the next step in his career as it was recently announced that he will be joining the Orlando Magic coaching staff to aid newly named head coach Steve Clifford as an assistant coach. Clifford was formerly the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and will now try his hand in Orlando.

Next: Utah Jazz: Josh Jackson doesn’t consider Ben Simmons a rookie

Following his time as head coach in Utah, Corbin was on the coaching staffs of the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. Neither team enjoyed much success during his tenure there, and he’ll have a tough task ahead of him with an Orlando Magic team that has failed to make the playoffs the past six seasons.