After 41 games have passed by, it’s time to grade how well Utah Jazz forward Royce O’Neale has performed in the first half of the season.
It’s already been over three months since the Utah Jazz initially took the floor this season. We have already seen some good, bad, and ugly out of this team in what’s been a roller coaster of a season!
As for Royce O’Neale, he’s been one of the steady contributors to the team all season long. After the heavy turnover from last season’s roster which saw all but seven Jazzmen part ways with the team, O’Neale has been a great help to Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
When Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic were still finding their footing with the Utah Jazz system early this season, O’Neale was consistent and willing to play as a starter or come off the bench. As I mentioned last week, O’Neale is a team-first guy that loves to help the Jazz win games.
He’s the perfect kind of specialist for the Jazz that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to thrive offensively. When Donovan, Bojan and Joe are creating shots Royce is a reliable option to stay on the three point line, either knocking down an open three or causing his own defender to stay with him creating more space inside for a play.
Defensively he is the best perimeter defender on the roster, and is even able to guard some power forwards. When the Jazz face off against a team with great wings on the roster, such as the Los Angeles Clippers, you can bet O’Neale will be the one with the assignment to shut down Kawhi Leonard.
Let’s break down how O’Neale has performed this season for the Utah Jazz: