Even though Richard Jefferson, who announced his retirement last week, was only with the Utah Jazz for a short time, he’s still a beloved member of the Jazz family.
Although the Utah Jazz are enjoying an exciting time in the franchise’s history with back-to-back second-round playoff appearances and a solid core for the foreseeable future, it wasn’t that long ago that they were dealing with tough times. Back in the 2013-14 season, the Jazz were in full rebuild mode and logged just 25 wins to finish dead last in the Western Conference.
However, one bright point about that season was undoubtedly welcoming a new member, albeit a short-term one, to the Utah Jazz family. The player I’m speaking of is Richard Jefferson, who just so happened to officially announce his retirement from basketball late last week.
The Jazz brought in Jefferson in the summer of 2013 as part of a three-team trade with the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets. And while acquiring RJ was largely part of an effort to build financial flexibility and stock up on draft picks during a season in which the Jazz knew they’d face significant struggles, he was a consummate pro during his time in Salt Lake City.
Richard served as a valuable mentor to several young Jazz players, and at times was the most consistent and effective player on a roster overwhelmingly made up of young bucks. He was the team’s sixth leading scorer that season at 10.1 points per game, and he appeared in all 82 contests for the Jazz. He shot 45 percent from the field and converted on an extremely efficient 40.9 percent of his 3-point attempts that year.
Richard Jefferson has announced his retirement from basketball. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3zQoLEB9Bc
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 13, 2018
Quite frankly, he’s a guy that I wish the Jazz could have held onto for longer, as I feel he could have continued to be an excellent veteran mentor and solid contributor to a young and developing team, much like Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson were in seasons following Jefferson’s departure.
However, Jefferson went on to big things as he was a member of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers team that won the NBA Championship in incredible fashion after coming back from a 3-1 deficit to topple the Golden State Warriors. He was a major contributor that postseason as he appeared in all 21 games, averaging 5.4 points per contest in 18.2 minutes per game while shooting an electrifying 52.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from the perimeter.
Even after leaving the Jazz, Jefferson made himself quite likable among the Utah faithful. In a now infamous episode of his podcast, his then Denver Nuggets teammate and former Jazzman Trey Lyles bashed the Jazz fans and organization in a number of ways. Meanwhile, Jefferson was quick to express his praise for the team and described fond memories of his short time there, despite the forgettable record the team posted that season.
Though Jefferson was only with the Jazz a short time, I’m sure he’ll be remembered as a class act and a favorite among the fans. The way he announced his retirement was further evidence of that. He posted an Instagram video of his late father and included an emotional post that described the rough month he’s endured between the passing of his dad and his “decision to move on from basketball.”
You can check it out for yourself below–
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1051247071741788162
Richard Jefferson’s father was killed in a drive-by shooting in California just last month. Between such a tragic event and a life-changing career decision, there’s no doubt that it’s been a tough time for RJ and his family.
As I’m sure all Jazz fans will, I wish nothing but the best for Jefferson and his family. He hosts a great podcast and in several appearances on various media outlets has proven himself as a great analyst. It’s quite likely that he’ll end up in a play-by-play or similar role for a team or national outlet in the not-so-distant future. Personally, I think he’d be great at such a gig and would love to see him thrive in it.
Until that time, though, Jefferson deserves to enjoy retirement. He had a storied career, including his brief stop with the Utah Jazz, and will always be remembered as an incredible NBA talent, particularly in his early years with the New Jersey Nets.
Best of luck, RJ! And thanks for your time spent with the Utah Jazz! Once a Jazzman, always a Jazzman, and the fans here are behind you one hundred percent.