Utah Jazz history: Top 5 players whose numbers aren’t retired

2. Thurl Bailey

Best known to younger fans for his TV duties on Jazz broadcasts, Thurl Bailey first wore the purple, green, and yellow before calling games. A college national champion, Bailey was drafted by the Jazz seventh overall in 1983. He would immediately start for the team and played well enough to earn All-Rookie First Team honors at the end of the year.

Just prior to his third season, Utah drafted a young star named Karl Malone, which bumped Bailey to the bench. However, the role change didn’t affect his growth, as he would continue to produce, eventually averaging 19.6 and 19.5 points a game in his fifth and sixth seasons, respectively, playing behind Malone.

Unfortunately, Bailey would be traded before Utah’s pair of Finals runs. He was dealt to Minnesota during the 1991-92 season.

Bailey would spend a couple seasons in Minnesota before playing professionally in Europe for four years. Bailey’s Jazz days weren’t over quite yet, however, as the big man returned to Salt Lake CIty for one final season in 1998, before retiring.

“Big T” played 10 years in a Jazz uniform and the record books prove it — he’s fifth in total games played, field goals made, field goal attempts, and total points — sixth in total minutes, defensive rebounds, and blocks — and eighth in total rebounds.