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.