Utah Jazz: 10 Jazzmen whose numbers should at least be considered for retirement

Bryon Russell (No. 3)

While Stockton, Malone and Hornacek were Utah’s best players during their storied runs to the 1997 and ’98 NBA Finals, Bryon Russell was a core piece in his own right and deserves major credit for all that those teams accomplished.

In a lot of ways, he’s the poster child for what fans consider a Jazz guy.

Russell came from a small school in Long Beach State as a second-round pick and earned a spot through hard work and determination as a rookie. He faced some adversity in year two, but battled his way back into the rotation and, eventually, a starting role.

From there, his defensive toughness, offensive energy and happy-go-lucky demeanor transfixed the fanbase and were critical to a whole lot of Jazz wins.

All told, Russell spent nine years with the Jazz, which is a rarefied air to be sure. Along the way, he played in more than 700 games (regular season and playoffs combined) and put up nine points, four boards and a steal per contest.

He was also one of the first Jazzmen to really utilize the 3-point shot as a key facet of his game. He was a 37-percent shooter from deep in Utah and, even as players take triples at a greater rate than ever now, he still ranks fourth in team history in 3-pointers made.