Utah Jazz alumnus: Former Jazzmen have shot at making history

Three former players from the Utah Jazz are now on the Milwaukee Bucks, who have a shot at making history this season.

The Utah Jazz have a reputation for getting the best out of their players. It’s sad to see some players leave, only to watch them discover that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

For example, Deron Williams‘ career slowly spiraled downward after being traded from the Jazz. He lost his status as one of the best point guards in the league, and took a lot of heat for Avery Johnson‘s dismissal as head coach.

On the contrast, when former Jazz players do find success elsewhere in the league it warms my heart. It was fun to watch the Atlanta Hawks win 60 games back in 2014-15, thanks to the strong play of their starting five. Three of their five starters were former Jazzmen, namely Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and DeMarre Carroll.

As of this season, there are some familiar faces finding success in the twilight of their careers. The Milwaukee Bucks currently sit on the summit of the NBA mountain. They lead the league with an impressive 40 wins, putting themselves on pace to win 71.

If they are able to break 70 wins they will become just the third team ever to do so. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls went 72-10 en route to an NBA championship, and the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors broke that regular season record going 73-9.

Sitting just below the 70 win threshold is the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who went 69-13.

Thanks to the dominant play of Giannis Antetokounmpo AKA the Greek Freak, the Bucks can’t be stopped on most nights. They’ve had top five offensive, defensive, and net ratings all season long.

They’ve surrounded Giannis with shooters and good defenders that can play in transition. One of the key backup players to this team is George Hill. Thanks to his 6-foot-9 wingspan he can lock down opposing guards, as well as hit the three point shot.

You may remember George Hill as the guy that helped the Utah Jazz break their playoff slump back in 2017. He was key to taking pressure off of Gordon Hayward as the primary scorer, and just a breath of fresh air at the point guard position after years of turnover and chaos.

Hill plays 21 minutes a night and shoots a blistering 54 percent from three point land.

Starting for the Bucks is former Jazzman Wesley Matthews. Before Matthews tore his Achilles tendon in 2015, he was one of the more underrated shooting guards in the game. He could play solid defense, and shoot the lights out as a complementary scorer both on and off the ball.

Matthews has struggled to shoot efficiently this season, but still plays the right type of style to complement the Greek Freak for 24 minutes a night.

The third Utah Jazz alumni playing in Brew City is Kyle Korver.

When the Jazz traded Korver this past summer to Memphis, he was released by the team so he could sign with a contending team. At 38 years old, Korver has never won an NBA championship in his 16 year NBA career.

He came close in 2017 and 2018 when he played with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but came up empty-handed in both Finals trips. His athleticism may be waning, but that jump shot is reliable as ever for Korver.

He plays nearly 17 minutes a night off the bench, and has made a triple in 33 of his 40 games this season.

I predicted the Bucks would win the Eastern Conference this year, but I’ll admit I was nervous about that pick knowing they lost Malcolm Brogdon. The fact that they look just as strong as last season’s squad speaks to the Greak Freak’s sheer dominance.

If the Jazz don’t make the NBA Finals this year, my second choice will be the Bucks. Not only do I want the former Jazzmen to succeed, but I want to see Milwaukee – a small market – be able to retain it’s generational talent.

If Giannis chooses to shake up the league by signing with a Western Conference team in 2021, that will send shock waves that may knock over the Jazz’s own title hopes.