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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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 24: Thabo Stefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 24: Thabo Stefolosha #22 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait at media day on September 24, 2018 at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus in Salt Laker City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Thabo Sefolosha

At 34 years old, Thabo Sefolosha isn’t exactly a spring chicken. Nevertheless, sometimes it’s the grizzled vets that prove to be the most steadying and important forces among the reserves. Though Thabo was lost to the Jazz in the latter part of last season with an injury, he is reportedly back strong and has looked as good as ever in the early parts of the season.

Prior to the injury and the trade for Jae Crowder, he was already looking like Utah’s most reliable bench piece. By putting up 8.2 points per game on a steady 38.1 percent shooting from deep while living up to his fearsome defensive reputation, Sefolosha was often one of Utah’s most consistent guys and certainly the most formidable of the reserves.

He’s seen enough NBA action to know a thing or two about how he can best fill his role and bring success to a team, so I’m pretty confident saying that he’ll have a good chance to continue to thrive for the Jazz. As long as he remains healthy, Sefolosha has the basketball IQ, the tough defense, the 3-point shooting ability and the veteran savvy to be a key piece to Utah’s second unit.

He may no longer have the youth and athleticism that he once had, but Thabo clearly still has a lot left in the tank. If he picks up where he left off last year and can replicate it for the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign, he may very well be the Jazz’s top reserve.

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