Utah Jazz drop exhibition slate featuring Kawhi Leonard, Raptors
By Ryan Aston
Kawhi Leonard and the new-look Toronto Raptors will be the first NBA squad to face the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena during the upcoming preseason.
Utah Jazz fans stuck in the muck of offseason doldrums finally got something to look forward to on Thursday. After weeks of radio silence, the team announced the preseason slate that will lead into its 2018-19 season.
Now, the countdown to the Jazz’s return to the hardwood is officially on. And while the team’s first taste of action will come on Saturday, September 29 against the NBL’s Perth Wildcats, the headliner will come three days later on October 2 in a bout with the Toronto Raptors.
Specifically, Kawhi Leonard‘s Toronto Raptors.
One of the biggest stories of the previous NBA year — right up there with LeBron James‘ time in Cleveland coming to an end, Donovan’s Mitchell’s rise to prominence in Utah and something about some Simmons guy in Philly — was what would happen with Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs.
The latter story reached its conclusion last week when Leonard was dealt to Toronto. As a result, the eyes of the NBA world will be fixed to Salt Lake City in early October when the 2014 Finals MVP takes his first steps with the Raptors at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Assuming he plays, that is.
The status of Leonard’s quadriceps injury continues to be up in the air. Also — there have been murmurs that he’s contemplating sitting the year out after he wasn’t dealt to his team of choice, the Los Angeles Lakers.
In any case, Jazz-Raptors in early October figures to have more intrigue than your standard exhibition game.
That said, the Perth game is nothing to gloss over. The Wildcats will be led into battle by former Jazzman Bryce Cotton, who played in Utah during the 2014-15 season. Cotton is the reigning NBL MVP, having averaged 20 points, three boards and three assists per game last season.
After squaring off with Perth and Toronto, the Jazz will wrap up their preseason homestand with the Adelaide 36ers on Friday, October 5. The 36ers will also feature some familiar faces; namely, Joey Wright and Nate Sobey.
Wright, a three-time NBL Coach of the Year who captured a league championship with the Brisbane Bullets in 2007, joined Utah’s coaching staff for summer league play in 2017.
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Meanwhile, Sobey is a 6-foot-4 guard who participated in the Jazz’s free agent mini-camp last June. He later joined Utah’s summer league squad. Our own Jared Woodcox interviewed Sobey ahead of his suiting up for the Jazz.
The Jazz will round out their exhibition schedule with a pair of road games. First up will be Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, October 7, after which the Jazz will head to Sacramento to take on the Kings on Thursday, October 11.
For full details on the Jazz 2018 preseason schedule, click HERE.