The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Who will be the team’s best sixth man?

By Jared Woodcox

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Dante Exum #11 of the Utah Jazz and Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz celebrate after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Dante Exum #11 of the Utah Jazz and Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz celebrate after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Whippany, NJ – AUGUST 15: Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the 2018 Jr. NBA Rookie Clinic on August 15, 2018 at Hoop Heaven in Whippany, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael LeBrecht /NBAE via Getty Images)
Whippany, NJ – AUGUST 15: Royce O’Neale #23 of the Utah Jazz during the 2018 Jr. NBA Rookie Clinic on August 15, 2018 at Hoop Heaven in Whippany, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael LeBrecht /NBAE via Getty Images) /

Royce O’Neale

Early last season, it seemed like Royce O’Neale would be lucky to ever even see the floor. However, by the end of the season, he found himself in Utah’s starting lineup in the second round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets and playing major minutes.

O’Neale doesn’t figure to be a starter this season assuming the Jazz stay healthy, as his starting spot came as a result of Ricky Rubio sitting with an injury. However, the experience and confidence he gained from that opportunity could very well prove invaluable. He’s apparently shown incredible growth and determination this offseason and I believe we’ll see him take some major strides in 2018-19.

Royce worked his way into the rotation on the back of his incredible defense. I’m confident that will remain the same, but as his offense improves as well, he could very well be an absolute force as a bona fide 3-and-D player, the likes of which would be a guy the Jazz can rely on to bring off the bench to guard opposing teams’ best player as well as score with ease.

If he reaches those heights by becoming that prolific of a threat on both ends of the floor, it’s an absolute possibility that he’ll become the team’s leading guy off the bench.

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