Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha played a key role for the team before his injury last season. He could have similar impact in 2018-19.
Thabo Sefolosha may have lost the back half of last season to an MCL injury, but the 12-year pro isn’t waving the white flag as a result. If anything, he’s looking to pick up right where he left off.
According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, he may be well on his way to doing just that. Jones reports that Sefolosha has been one of the standout players at the open gym sessions happening at the Jazz practice facility right now.
Among tidbits from OTA's, hearing Thabo Sefolosha looks really good....has returned to complete health from the MCL that caused him to miss the second half of the season
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) September 19, 2018
If you’re a Jazz fan, that’s great news.
During the first half of the 2017-18 NBA season, the Utah faithful had significantly less to cheer about than they did during the team’s dramatic stretch run. Sure, Donovan Mitchell already looked the part of a rookie sensation, but Rudy Gobert was banged-up, Ricky Rubio was struggling and the Jazz were losing basketball games in bunches.
Sefolosha’s play was among the few bright spots for the team. At the ripe old age of 34, he was holding things down in his new role as a back-up power forward. In addition to providing some of the defense that’s been his calling card over the years, he was averaging over eight points per game and knocking down 38 percent of his triples.
Moreover, he acted as one of the team’s guiding forces in the locker room.
That was a role he was forced to double-down on after he went down for the count during a loss to the Charlotte Hornets in January. And with Jae Crowder now in the fold, that could continue to be the case this season. But if Sefolosha is really rocking OTAs, things could get interesting.
At the least, a healthy Sefolosha means a super-deep frontcourt rotation and a greater ability for Jazz coach Quin Snyder to play with different lineup combinations in pursuit of advantageous match-ups. But if Sefolosha is truly back in full effect, he could end up taking minutes from his younger cohort.
In that scenario, he could have major impact for the Jazz as they navigate the rigors of the wild Western Conference.
Either way, Sefolosha getting back to full health is a positive development; for the player and the team.