Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 10 Darrell Griffith

• Seasons with the franchise: 10 (1980-81 to 1990-91, did not play in 1985-86 due to a foot injury)
• Regular-season games played: 765
• Averages as a Jazzman: 16.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
• Shooting percentages: 46.3 from the field, 33.2 from three, 70.7 from the foul line
• Playoff games with Utah: 37
• Postseason averages: 15.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks

Dr. Dunkenstein. Griff.

Darrell Griffith is still the only player in history to have won NBA Rookie of the Year while a member of the Utah Jazz. And the 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard had been the only Utah rookie to average more than 20 points per game until Donovan Mitchell came along roughly a quarter-century later.

A bonafide above-the-rim showman, Griffith’s dunks were a thing of beauty throughout his 10-year NBA career, which were all spent with the Jazz. But the former No. 2 overall draft pick out of Louisville was also a decent outside shooter, particularly during his later years, and an elite ball thief, particularly in his early years.

While Griffith never played in an All-Star Game, his leadership, showmanship, and durability from the early 80s to the early 90s helped to lay the foundation for all the relatively consistent success — at least of the regular-season variety — that has followed in Salt Lake City.