Honorable Mentions
There were several memorable trios in Utah Jazz history that either didn’t play together for very long, or just missed the cut for my All-Time top five. These teams include but are not limited to:
Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, George Hill, 2016-17
Playoff appearances: One. Made it to the second round (2017)
All-Stars: Gordon Hayward (2017)
This trio could have done a lot more damage had it been intact for longer. In fact, this is the only Utah Jazz trio that won 50+ games that didn’t make the list.
They won 51 games, and according to the metric man-games lost, they were capable of being a 60-win team at full health. The offensive system was built around getting the ball to Gordon Hayward, which was a brilliant idea.
G-Time shot over 50 percent from the field that season and averaged over 20 points. The only other Jazz players to do that? Adrian Dantley, Karl Malone, Jeff Malone, and Carlos Boozer.
Adrian Dantley, Darrell Griffith, Rickey Green, 1981-85
Playoff Appearances: Two. Made it to the second round (1984, 1985)
All-Stars: Adrian Dantley (1981, 1982, 1984, 1985), Rickey Green (1984)
This group of guys was “the team with heart” that made the playoffs a reality for the first time in Utah Jazz history. If they hadn’t made the playoffs, the Jazz very well could have been long gone from the State of Utah.
The reason they get an honorable mention here is because of the fact their two playoff runs were preceded by three seasons of 30 wins or less. That’s a rarity in Utah Jazz culture and ultimately keeps them out of the top five.