Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history

Utah Jazz (Photo by Daniel Lippitt/Getty Images)
Utah Jazz (Photo by Daniel Lippitt/Getty Images)
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Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz guard Howard Eisley (Photo by DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images)

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 35 Howard Eisley

  • Seasons with the franchise: Six (1995-96 to 1999-00, 2004-05)
  • Regular-season games played: 435
  • Averages as a Jazzman: 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
  • Shooting percentages: 42.8 from the field, 33.5 from three, 82.6 from the foul line
  • Playoff games with Utah: 79
  • Postseason averages: 5.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks

Howard Eisley was durable, to the tune of never missing a game during his first four-year stint with the Utah Jazz and then playing 74 games in his one-year return to Salt Lake City a few years later.

The 6-foot-2 guard was also reliable, to the tune of never losing his job as the primary backup to John Stockton during the franchise’s back-to-back Finals appearance.

A soft-spoken, unassuming player, Eisley was originally cut by the Jazz following the 1995-96 preseason. But he came back to town a few months later after earning praise from Utah head coach Jerry Sloan for his high IQ and top-notch work ethic, which he had put on display in what was the Continental Basketball Association.

He then became one of the most important reserves in franchise history.