The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Counting down the team’s Top 15 all-time draft picks

By Ryan Aston

Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Darrell Griffith of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Rodney Hood, Utah Jazz
NEW YORK – JUNE 26: Rodney Hood addresses the media after being selected 23rd overall by the Utah Jazz during the 2014 NBA Draft on June 26, 2014 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Getting Rodney Hood in the 20s was huge, and should give Jazz fans at least some level of hope about making the most of their pick at No. 23 in this year’s draft.

Ahead of the 2014 NBA Draft, Jabari Parker of Duke was being touted as a potential franchise player. Meanwhile, Hood, his Blue Devils teammate, failed to inspire NBA GMs. He was simply too old and not athletic enough or long enough to warrant a high first-round selection.

So, he slipped on draft night, all the way down to the Jazz at No. 23. Now, even after he lost a little steam with the Jazz dealing him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018, I think you’d be hard-pressed to claim to Parker has had a better NBA career than Hood.

I’m sure the Memphis Grizzlies, who took Jordan Adams (who’s now out of the league) at No. 22, would love to have him.

Over parts of four seasons with the Jazz, Hood played in 227 games, averaging 13 points per contest and shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. Despite his status as a late first-round pick, there have been times when he’s looked like one of the better scoring two-guards in the Association.

After recovering some of his mojo with the Portland Trail Blazers this past season, Hood looks primed to continue to get buckets for many years to come.

Next: No. 12