Utah Jazz: Raul Neto already saddled with the team’s first injury

The oft-injured Utah Jazz are set to tip-off training camp on somewhat of a sour note as point-man Raul Neto suffers the team’s first setback.

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating now — there seems to be three certainties in life: death, taxes and the Utah Jazz being perpetually injured. Although the Jazz are working to finally shake the injury monkey off their backs this season, it would seem they’re off to a less-than-stellar start.

Training camp is just now getting underway but, already, the team has announced its first injury. Per a release from Jazz PR, back-up point guard Raul Neto, who just entered our Jazz rank countdown at No. 13, has incurred a right hamstring injury.

He’ll be re-evaluated by the team’s medical staff in two weeks time.

While several Jazzmen have missed time in recent years, Neto has begun to rival Dante Exum as the poster child for the team’s injury woes. He missed 41 games in 2017-18, with a concussion, a left knee bone bruise and a fractured left wrist being the main culprits in his inactivity.

He also suffered a left quad injury, bruised ribs, foot soreness, a sprained ankle and left hamstring soreness.

All of that happened in one season, which is a shame because Neto played well when he wasn’t on the shelf. He actually led the Jazz in net rating last season at 10.9 and was a consistent threat from deep, making over 40 percent of his 3-point attempts.

The 26-year-old re-signed with the Jazz on a two-year, $4.4 million deal in July.

With any luck, Neto will be able to resume basketball activity in two weeks time and the Jazz don’t suffer any more injuries. The laws of probability alone should dictate that the Jazz have some semblance of health this season and the team completely revamped its training and sports science staff to help smash the injury bug.

That said, fluke occurrences and freak accidents are going to happen. Neto looks to be the first to fall prey to one, and he likely won’t be the last.