The J-Notes
Fansided

Five Utah Jazz players that left fans wanting more

By Ryan Aston

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 5: Paul Millsap #24 and Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz go up for a rebound against Xavier Henry #4 of the New Orleans Hornets at Energy Solutions Arena on April 5, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 5: Paul Millsap #24 and Alec Burks #10 of the Utah Jazz go up for a rebound against Xavier Henry #4 of the New Orleans Hornets at Energy Solutions Arena on April 5, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Donyell Marshall Utah Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: Michael Finley of the Dallas Mavericks (R) drives to the basket on Donyell Marshall of the Utah Jazz (L) in game five of their first round NBA Western Conference playoff 03 May 2001 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Finley had a game high 33 points to lead the Mavericks over the Jazz 84-83. AFP Photo/George FREY (Photo credit should read GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images) /

3) Donyell Marshall

It was strange times in Utah when Donyell Marshall joined the team in the year 2000.

The Jazz band wasn’t that far removed from two Finals appearances or tying the eventual-champion San Antonio Spurs for the league’s best record during the lockout-shortened ’98-99 season. However, it was becoming clear that the end of an era was near.

Over his two seasons with the Jazz from 2000-02, there were more than a handful of nights when Marshall looked like the best Jazzman on the floor; for teams that were still led by Stockton and Malone. It was a strange proposition for fans accustomed to the HOF duo leading teams with title aspirations.

Marshall deserves a lot of credit though — he was great during his short stint in Utah. In his second year with the team, he put up 15 points, eight boards, a block and a steal every night. He played at small forward for the Jazz but, in many ways, he was the prototypical playmaking big man every team covets today.

Had he not left for Chicago in ’02, he could have been a key figure in the team’s transition from Stockton and Malone to the next phase.

Home/Jazz News