Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history

Matt Giles

Utah Jazz (Photo by Daniel Lippitt/Getty Images)

As Utah Jazz treasures pile up, it’s always time to stack up 50 all-timers.

First, note that this ranking of history’s 50 best Utah Jazz weapons is subject to change here at The J-Notes in the future. In fact, the plan is for the list to receive necessary tweaks after each season for all of eternity.

Now, before counting down from No. 50 until we reach the supreme Jazzman, let’s briefly outline the criteria for each name’s inclusion and order of appearance:

To begin with, any personal feats that occurred elsewhere will not factor into the equation. Not one iota. No, this is all about what guys did while with the Jazz, including the early years when the team called New Orleans home.
And all the listed stats reflect only regular-season boxscores. Yet make no mistake, for playoff performances matter. Keeping that in mind, we shall be sure to weigh the individuals’ postseason brilliance, or lack thereof, as well as the franchise’s most notable accomplishments during their respective tenures.
Concerning time, a fella’s total number of years in Salt Lake City — or, of course, back in the Bayou era from 1974-75 through the 1978-79 campaign — most certainly warrants significant consideration here. On the other hand, in fairness to any active Utah gems, they won’t get hit with a drastic penalty in this department.
Finally, the players’ likability, toughness, perseverance, and various other incalculable intangibles will essentially serve as tiebreakers along the way.

OK, without further ado, away we go…

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 50 Terry Furlow

Seasons with the franchise: One (1979-80)
Regular-season games played: 55
Averages as a Jazzman: 16.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.6 from the field, 31.5 from three, 87.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: None

Perhaps Terry Furlow should rank a smidge higher than No. 50. Or some might say the 6-foot-4 shooting guard’s total production in only a chunk of one season — for a 24-58 Utah Jazz bunch, mind you — isn’t enough to warrant his name on this list (he is the only player here who spent fewer than two seasons with the Jazz).

But given the unique circumstances of his stint in Utah, it does seem fitting to go ahead and recognize him here at the get-go. Because on May 23, 1980, at age 25 and less than two months removed from his lone campaign with the Jazz, Furlow died in a car accident.

Tragically, basketball fans will never know what could’ve been…

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 49 EC Coleman (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1974-75 to 1976-77)
Regular-season games played: 221
Averages as a Jazzman: 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks
Shooting percentages: 45.3 from the field, 70.0 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

EC Coleman played on the first three teams of the Jazz’s existence. And even though the 6-foot-8 power forward wasn’t a flashy playmaker or consistent bucket-getter, there is no doubt his defensive prowess was of the top-shelf variety.

An All-Defensive First Team selection at age 25 in his final season with the franchise, Coleman was both a strong rebounder and lockdown defender.

However, as detailed in regards to this next player on the list, those early New Orleans squads were never close to being an NBA power back in those days. So assuming there are plenty more Jazz sensations to come in the future, his contributions for a non-contender might not equate to his appearance on this list much longer.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 48 Otto Moore (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1974-75 to 1976-77)
Regular-season games played: 202
Averages as a Jazzman: 7.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.4 blocks
Shooting percentages: 42.9 from the field, 65.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

Say No Moore.

Sticking with the theme of original Jazzmen, following six seasons in the league as a journeyman, Otto Moore was the first to effectively man the new franchise’s paint area. The 6-foot-11 center did so in New Orleans during the first three years of the team’s existence before playing professionally in Italy.

At the time, Moore was a rebounding machine in his late 20s.

And while he was far from the No. 1 scoring option on those early squads, he was arguably the most well-rounded player in the Bayou at the time. Of course, it doesn’t help his cause here that the Jazz never won more than 38 games in those first three years.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 47 Felton Spencer

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1993-94 to 1995-96)
Regular-season games played: 184
Averages as a Jazzman: 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.8 blocks
Shooting percentages: 50.5 from the field, 67.5 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 34
Postseason averages: 5.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.2 steals, 1.2 blocks

Chief.

Outside of the considerable time spent on the sideline due to injuries, Felton Spencer was the full-time starter at the five-spot across his three seasons with the Utah Jazz. And those three teams each won at least 53 games in the regular season.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting here that those three campaigns coincided with Spencer’s prime as a professional and were a build-up to the franchise reigning supreme in the Western Conference.

That said, given Spencer’s utter size and the countless double-teams that Karl Malone’s presence demanded back in those days from Jazz opponents, it seems that the 7-foot, 265-pounder could have offered a tad more in terms of intimidating opponents on either end of the floor.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 46 Antoine Carr

Seasons with the franchise: Four (1994-95 to 1997-98)
Regular-season games played: 306
Averages as a Jazzman: 7.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.8 blocks
Shooting percentages: 48.7 from the field, 10.0 from three, 79.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 63
Postseason averages: 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.6 blocks

The Big Dog.

Although Antoine Carr spent only four seasons with the Utah Jazz and started only 12 games in that entire span, the 6-foot-9 veteran down low provided a little bit of everything off the bench across what still stands as the best four-year stretch in franchise history.

Two NBA Finals appearances. An average of more than 60 wins per season.

Plus, take into consideration the fact Carr was generally seen as a fan favorite and that his exit to the Houston Rockets at age 36 just so happened to mark the start of Utah’s gradual decline from being a legit perennial title threat.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 45 Ben Poquette

Seasons with the franchise: Four (1979-80 to 1982-83)
Regular-season games played: 321
Averages as a Jazzman: 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks
Shooting percentages: 50.7 from the field, 30.4 from three, 78.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: None

Gentle Ben.

A former second-round pick out of Central Michigan by the Detroit Pistons back in 1977, Ben Poquette arrived for the Jazz’s first season in Utah a few years later and then saw his four best seasons as a pro with the franchise.

The 6-foot-9 forward twice finished among the top 10 in the NBA in blocked shots per game (1979-80 and 1980-81).

However, despite also reaching 11.0 points per game across his final season in Salt Lake City and serving as a durable defensive specialist in the paint in each of his Jazz campaigns, none of the Utah teams he played for reached the playoffs. Therefore, Poquette’s limit here is No. 45.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 44 Jordan Clarkson

Seasons with the franchise: Two (active)
Regular-season games played: 93
Averages as a Jazzman: 16.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 43.9 from the field, 35.5 from three, 87.5 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: Seven
Postseason averages: 16.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.0 blocks

Flame Thrower.

As already one of the premier high-volume shooters off the bench in franchise history, Jordan Clarkson certainly has a shot to climb high on this ranking in years to come should the 6-foot-4 guard stay put in Salt Lake City. On the other end of the floor, however, his play leaves plenty to be desired.

Also, his green-light shot attempts can become a bit excessive on his chillier nights.

This season, though, in helping the Utah Jazz stay on top of the Western Conference standings, the 28-year-old is seen nationally as the top candidate for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Add in some bonus points as well for his being on track to set a Jazz season record with his sizzling 95.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe right now.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 43 Adam Keefe

Seasons with the franchise: Six (1994-95 to 1999-00)
Regular-season games played: 405
Averages as a Jazzman: 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 52.1 from the field, 72.3 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 54
Postseason averages: 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.1 blocks

Yes, Adam Keefe’s per-game stats are generally worse than the guys who have already appeared on this list. Again, though, there is significant favoritism here toward those with significant longevity as a Jazzman plus dozens of playoff appearances.

Moreover, the Utah Jazz won more than 70 percent of their games between Keefe’s six seasons with the franchise.

And even though the 6-foot-9 big man largely served as a role player off the bench during his time in Salt Lake City, he admirably started 75 games at center for a 1997-98 Utah team that won 62 regular-season games and reached the NBA Finals.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 42 Aaron James (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Five (1974-75 to 1978-79)
Regular-season games played: 356
Averages as a Jazzman: 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 48.1 from the field, 76.0 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

Parking Lot.

Granted, Aaron James survived only five seasons in the league before taking off to Italy.

That said, all five of those seasons were with the New Orleans Jazz, marking the franchise’s first five seasons in existence and its entire time in the Bayou.

And James managed to serve as a reliable option in the scoring department, averaging more than 10 points per game in four of his five NBA seasons, despite the 6-foot-8 forward having to share touches with the likes of Nate Williams, Truck Robinson, Gail Goodrich, and Pete Maravich (all names to come on this list, obviously).

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 41 Jim McElroy (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Four (1975-76 to 1978-79)
Regular-season games played: 277
Averages as a Jazzman: 11.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 48.4 from the field, 75.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

True, none of the five New Orleans Jazz teams won more than 40 games or reached the postseason.

However, by the final season before the move to Utah, which was also the final season of Jim McElroy as a Jazzman, the 6-foot-3 guard and former third-round pick out of Central Michigan had become a potent offensive weapon, albeit for a team that won only 26 games.

McElroy averaged 16.9 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 49.1 percent from the field across the 79 games he played that final season in Louisiana. And all of those numbers wound up being his career-highs as a seven-year pro.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 40 Nate Williams (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Four (1974-75 to 1977-78)
Regular-season games played: 222
Averages as a Jazzman: 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 50.1 from the field, 80.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

Another member of the New Orleans Jazz, Nate Williams arrived midway through the first season in 1974-75, instantly becoming a prolific shooter who might have averaged 20 or so points per game if not for Pete Maravich’s unrivaled number of field goal attempts pretty much every game.

Nevertheless, the bulk of Williams’ most prolific years as an eventual eight-year NBA player came during his four years with the Jazz.

In his first three years with the franchise before finishing out his career with the Golden State Warriors, the 6-foot-5 wing never averaged fewer than 12 points per game.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 39 Donyell Marshall

Seasons with the franchise: Two (2000-01, 2001-02)
Regular-season games played: 139
Averages as a Jazzman: 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks
Shooting percentages: 51.0 from the field, 31.8 from three, 73.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: Nine
Postseason averages: 12.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks

Secret Weapon.

Seeing that the Utah Jazz lost in the first round of the NBA Playoffs in each of Donyell Marshall’s two seasons with the franchise, the brevity of his stay outweighs his respectable stats plus the combined regular-season success of his two Jazz squads.

Still, after arriving in Utah via the first four-team trade in NBA history, the 6-foot-9 forward served as a powerful rebounder and reliable scorer before bolting to the Chicago Bulls in free agency.

Of course, had Marshall stuck around as a Jazzman, he would have lived with wildly unfair expectations due to his often being tagged as the heir apparent to then-aging Jazz legend Karl Malone.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 38 Bojan Bogdanovic

Seasons with the franchise: Two (active)
Regular-season games played: 118
Averages as a Jazzman: 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 43.5 from the field, 40.1 from three, 88.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: None (did not see postseason action last season due to his season-ending wrist surgery in May 2020)

Bogey.

He’s not the most consistent player for the current Utah Jazz. After all, when seeking out foul calls rather than simply focusing on putting the ball through the hoop, Bojan Bogdanovic becomes a turnover machine. In these instances, when his eyes are fixed on either the floor or the officials, it often seems as if all it takes is him taking one dribble for a mistake to ensue.

And Bogdanovic isn’t one of the better defenders in Utah.

That said, when the 6-foot-7 forward catches fire downtown while also aggressively seeking drives to the rack and post-up opportunities, he does give off vibes as perhaps the third-best scoring option in town. There’s no denying his pure stroke and overall ability to find buckets from various spots on the floor.

With that in mind, there’s also no denying that he could instantly move up 10 or more spots on this ranking by limiting his whining to refs and consistently producing for these Jazzmen come playoff time.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 37 Bob Hansen

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (1983-84 to 1989-90)
Regular-season games played: 471
Averages as a Jazzman: 7.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.7 from the field, 33.5 from three, 67.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 40
Postseason averages: 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks

There are several reasons for Bob Hansen appearing this high on the all-time list of Utah Jazz greats despite his never quite averaging double-digit points and serving as only a so-so shooter from either beyond the arc or the charity stripe.

The 6-foot-6 guard’s relative longevity and his four-year starting role in Salt Lake City definitely factor into the equation. So too does the franchise’s general improvement from one year to the next during his time as a Jazzman.

Finally, Hansen’s known defensive prowess on the perimeter helps to break the tie he was in with several of the names that came before him here.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 36 Royce O’Neale

Seasons with the franchise: Four (active)
Regular-season games played: 276
Averages as a Jazzman: 5.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.4 blocks
Shooting percentages: 44.1 from the field, 37.5 from three, 79.3 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 23
Postseason averages: 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 steals

Big Meal.

Royce O’Neale is another player with stats that don’t jump off the page but whose dirty-work contributions are immeasurable.

Yet despite a somewhat low number of shot attempts per 36 minutes in comparison to others at his position in the regular rotation, O’Neale is actually fairly reliable when left open from beyond the arc. Plus, the 6-foot-4 forward consistently knocks down his free throws and rarely turns the ball over.

Without his overall presence this year, most notably his rebounding ability and defensive versatility, it’s highly doubtful the Utah Jazz would still own the best record in the league. Indeed, there’s a reason fans tend to trust him. In just his fourth NBA season after going undrafted out of Baylor, O’Neale has already proven to be a team-first guy and, because of that, an obvious winner.

Simple as that.

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.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 34 Rich Kelley (NO and Utah)

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (1975-76 to 1978-79, 1982-83 to 1984-85)
Regular-season games played: 497
Averages as a Jazzman: 8.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks
Shooting percentages: 49.4 from the field, 79.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 20
Postseason averages: 5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks

In the final season of his first stretch with the Jazz, Rich Kelley finished No. 2 in the NBA with 12.8 rebounds per game and No. 8 in the league with his average of 2.1 blocks. He did so while also pouring in 15.7 points per game.

Those lofty numbers led to the substantial hype in new Jazzland upon the return a few years later of the franchise’s former No. 7 overall selection at the 1975 NBA Draft.

Although the 7-foot center out of Stanford never delivered to the level of his last few years in New Orleans, he was a part-time starter for those three seasons around the age of 30. And those Kelley years in Salt Lake City included the Jazz seeing their first two playoff appearances, which then turned into 20 in a row between the Frank Layden and Jerry Sloan tenures as head coach.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 33 Alec Burks

Seasons with the franchise: Eight (2011-12 to 2018-19)
Regular-season games played: 382
Averages as a Jazzman: 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 42.5 from the field, 35.5 from three, 76.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 13
Postseason averages: 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks

Houdini. A-Buckets.

If not for the persistent injury-related issues, Alec Burks might have reached another level in his pro career. After all, the 6-foot-6 forward, who went No. 12 overall to the Utah Jazz at the 2011 NBA Draft, didn’t have the chance to play in more than half of his team’s regular-season games in half of his eight seasons in Salt Lake City.

Still, Burks showed flashes of stardom with the Jazz, most consistently in 2013-14 when he averaged 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across what is still to this day — the 29-year-old is currently a key reserve for the New York Knicks — his career-high 78 regular-season appearances.

And from 2013-14 through 2015-16, Burks’ scoring average never dipped below 13 points per game, albeit he never played more than 31 games in the latter two seasons of that three-year span.

In 2018, the Jazz sent Burks to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the Kyle Korver trade.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 32 Rodney Hood

Seasons with the franchise: Four (2014-15 to 2017-18)
Regular-season games played: 227
Averages as a Jazzman: 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 41.7 from the field, 37.0 from three, 82.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 11
Postseason averages: 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.0 blocks

As the Utah Jazz’s former selection at No. 23 overall out of Duke from the 2014 NBA Draft, Rodney Hood looked to be a budding star in the league across his first 3.5 seasons as a pro before landing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018 as part of a three-team trade.

Hood’s 16.8 points per game in 39 outings for the 2017-18 Jazz still stands as his top career mark.

But as someone thought to be the next Gordon Hayward among hopeful Jazz fans, Hood didn’t quite live up to expectations on a night-in, night-out basis. In fairness, though, the 6-foot-8 wing was part of the rebranding process under head coach Quin Snyder that now — three years since the Hood trade — has Utah slowly but surely finding an identity as a powerhouse.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 31 Tyrone Corbin

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1991-92 to 1993-94)
Regular-season games played: 233
Averages as a Jazzman: 9.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 48.8 from the field, 16.2 from three, 83.7 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 37
Postseason averages: 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks

The Milkman.

Arriving via the Thurl Bailey trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, journeyman Tyrone Corbin provided a key reliable bench weapon in Salt Lake City for the three years surrounding his 30th birthday.

Actually, to be fair, the 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward earned a part-time role as a starter in his final two years with the franchise, most notably averaging 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds while tallying 58 regular-season starts for a 1992-93 team that finished 47-35.

Simply put, Corbin was a solid contributor, including on defense, for three solid Jazz squads. And of course, the fact that he returned to Utah as an assistant coach from 2004 to 2011 and then as head coach of the Utah Jazz (112-146 regular-season record) until 2014, well, that means he has to appear fairly high up here.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 30 Greg Ostertag

Seasons with the franchise: 10 (1995-96 to 2003-04, 2005-06)
Regular-season games played: 700
Averages as a Jazzman: 4.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.8 blocks
Shooting percentages: 48.7 from the field, 57.5 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 87
Postseason averages: 4.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, 1.9 blocks

Tag. The Big O.

No, this is not a joke, even though NBA fans seemed to thoroughly enjoy poking fun at the big man during his playing days.

Yes, although the 7-foot-2, 280-pound center never averaged more than eight points per game, Greg Ostertag did serve as a solid defender down low for the only two Utah Jazz teams in history to reach the NBA Finals.

Ostertag’s defensive rating twice ranked among the top 10 in the league, and so did his total rebound percentage. In fact, back in his 1999-00 campaign, the former No. 28 overall selection out of Kansas from the 1995 NBA Draft finished No. 1 in the NBA in block percentage (8.2).

Now, factoring in his longevity as a Jazzman and decent durability given his sheer size, it’s worth repeating: this is not a joke.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 29 Gail Goodrich (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1976-77 to 1978-79)
Regular-season games played: 182
Averages as a Jazzman: 14.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.1 from the field, 81.5 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

Stumpy. The Stump.

Gail Goodrich arrived with the Utah Jazz as a savvy free-agent veteran at the age of 33 in 1976 after spending 11 combined seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns.

Playing alongside the legendary Pete Maravich in the Jazz backcourt for the franchise’s last three seasons in New Orleans, the 6-foot-1 guard consistently averaged more than 12 points and more than 4.5 assists per game while serving as another reliable shooter from all over the court.

However, Goodrich did not end up on the first Utah Jazz roster in 1979-80 and retired at the age of 35 after contributing to three consecutive losing-record teams in New Orleans. Also, it’s worth noting here that none of the UCLA product’s five All-Star nods took place while he was a Jazzman.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 28 Ronnie Brewer

Seasons with the franchise: Four (2006-07 to 2009-10)
Regular-season games played: 266
Averages as a Jazzman: 10.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 52.3 from the field, 23.4 from three, 70.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 25
Postseason averages: 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks

Although his late-game shooting woes proved costly in the postseason, Ronnie Brewer was a solid contributor on both ends of the floor in each of his four seasons with the Utah Jazz.

Despite the 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing’s relative youth at the time, he started alongside Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, and Andrei Kirilenko for a 2007-08 squad that won 54 regular-season games and ultimately reached the Western Conference Semifinals.

A skilled, sturdy defender on the perimeter, the former No. 14 overall selection out of Arkansas from 2006 ended up averaging more than 1.5 steals per game across his last three seasons with the franchise.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 27 Ricky Rubio

Seasons with the franchise: Two (2017-18 to 2018-19)
Regular-season games played: 145
Averages as a Jazzman: 12.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 41.2 from the field, 33.2 from three, 86.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 11
Postseason averages: 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.4 blocks

His dazzling displays weren’t a perfect match for the Utah Jazz. That said, Ricky Rubio — a former No. 5 overall draft pick from 2009 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which is now again the 30-year-old’s NBA home — was relatively productive, and on both ends of the floor, during his recent two-year stay in Salt Lake City.

In fact, those two seasons account for two of the active 10-year NBA veteran’s top three season scoring averages to date. Plus, don’t overlook the fact Rubio finished No. 12 in the league with his 1.6 steals in 2017-18 or the fact that he was money from the foul line.

Furthermore, the 6-foot-3 guard from Spain was a full-time starter in both seasons with the Jazz, and both those squads hovered around the 50-win mark in the regular season.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 26 Derrick Favors

Seasons with the franchise: 10 (2010-11 to 2018-19, 2020-21, active)
Regular-season games played: 629
Averages as a Jazzman: 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 52.9 from the field, 20.8 from three, 67.0 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 31
Postseason averages: 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 blocks

Fave.

Yes, Derrick Favors, the former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2009 high school recruiting class who a year later went No. 3 overall out of Georgia Tech at the 2010 NBA Draft, still has a chance to climb a few spots on this ranking.

On the other hand, considering the 29-year-old now comes off the bench for the Utah Jazz and is averaging a career-low at 5.7 points per game this season, perhaps his only shot at doing so is if the franchise earns some significant postseason hardware shortly.

Yet to be fair, during the latter half of the 6-foot-9, 265-pounder’s first nine-year stint as a Jazzman — which began as an NBA rookie after Utah landed him as part of the blockbuster Deron Williams trade with the then-New Jersey Nets — Favors was a considerable all-around force in the paint as a full-time starting center.

Plus, considering his choice to return to Salt Lake City as a free agent after spending the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, Favors’ loyalty to the Jazz is definitely worth a couple of bonus points here.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 25 John Drew

Seasons with the franchise: Three (1982-83 to 1984-85)
Regular-season games played: 144
Averages as a Jazzman: 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 46.8 from the field, 76.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 11
Postseason averages: 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.0 blocks

J.E.

Despite struggling with addiction, John Edward Drew was a prolific scorer out of the gates for the Utah Jazz. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward — a former second-rounder out of Gardner-Webb who played eight seasons with the Atlanta Hawks before landing in Salt Lake City as part of the Dominique Wilkins trade in 1982 — scored 21.2 points per game in his first season as a Jazzman.

Drew was also a strong rebounder and defender, averaging more than four boards per game and at least 0.8 steals per game in each of his three seasons with the franchise.

However, the Alabama native’s best years came with the Hawks, when he ended up a two-time All-Star. And his suspension due to substance abuse while a member of the Jazz in 1985 ultimately spelled the end of his 11-year NBA career.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 24 Paul Millsap

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2006-07 to 2012-13)
Regular-season games played: 540
Averages as a Jazzman: 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks
Shooting percentages: 51.6 from the field, 27.4 from three, 72.3 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 48
Postseason averages: 9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks

The Anchorman.

A 2006 second-round pick out of Louisiana Tech for the Utah Jazz, Paul Millsap instantly landed All-Rookie honors the following season. And he then eventually became a full-time starter at power forward in Salt Lake City, averaging more than 30 minutes per game in four different campaigns, before bolting to the Atlanta Hawks as a free agent in 2013.

Despite his departure from the franchise in the midst of his prime, the 6-foot-7, 260-pounder served as a formidable piece of artillery for the Jazz during five playoff runs.

All that said, the burly Millsap didn’t earn his first of four All-Star nods until after he left Utah. He developed a solid 3-point stroke while reaching his peak with the Hawks before ultimately closing out his 14-year NBA career via four seasons with the Denver Nuggets.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 23 Mike Conley

Seasons with the franchise: Two (active)
Regular-season games played: 91
Averages as a Jazzman: 15.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 43.0 from the field, 39.7 from three, 84.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: Five
Postseason averages: 19.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.2 blocks

Money Mike. Mountain Mike.

Even though this is only the second season that Mike Conley has been a Jazzman, the 33-year-old is in the midst of his first All-Star campaign. And of course, it’s important to mention that he is the third-leading scorer (16.5 points per game) and leading distributor (5.6 assists per game) for Utah at the moment.

Last season, Conley wasn’t too shabby either after ending up in Salt Lake City as part of a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he had shined for his previous 12 years in the league.

The 6-foot-1 veteran guard, who admirably finished runner-up to Steph Curry in this year’s NBA 3-Point Contest, is impressively able to create his own shot off the dribble and serves as a wise leader in the Utah backcourt nowadays. Plus, he’s upped his defensive game this season, averaging 1.3 steals per game, and is shooting a career-high 41.6 percent beyond the arc.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 22 Matt Harpring

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2002-03 to 2008-09)
Regular-season games played: 474
Averages as a Jazzman: 11.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 49.0 from the field, 34.4 from three, 75.2 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 39
Postseason averages: 8.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.2 blocks

Matt Harpring’s first two seasons with the Utah Jazz, at the age of 26 and 27, ended up being his most productive years as a pro, averaging at least 16 points and 6.5 boards in each.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward’s 2002-03 campaign was particularly impressive given his career-high 41.3 percent clip from 3-point land in addition to his 32.8 minutes per game as a member of the final starting lineup to feature both John Stockton and Karl Malone.

Finally, remember that the Georgia Tech product, a former No. 15 overall selection at the 1998 NBA Draft, finished out his playing days in Salt Lake City and nowadays serves as an AT&T SportsNet commentator for Jazz home games. Indeed, longevity and loyalty stand out when it comes to Harpring.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 21 Joe Ingles

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (active)
Regular-season games played: 528
Averages as a Jazzman: 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 45.5 from the field, 41.7 from three, 76.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 34
Postseason averages: 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.2 blocks

Jinglin’ Joe. Slow-Mo Joe.

A beloved, kindhearted Jazzman. There’s no denying that when speaking about Joe Ingles and his ongoing importance to the franchise.

Sometimes, it’s as a key reserve and fill-in starter, which is the case for the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward this go-round. Other times, it’s as a full-time starter, which was the case in a few previous seasons.

No matter the ranking of his role each year or where he typically starts games, Ingles has been consistently getting buckets for the franchise ever since arriving from Australia as a 27-year-old in 2014.

Plus, he’s now perfectly capable of handling the ball with his calm, slow-motion dribbles and at times, despite his shortcomings in the athleticism department, has shown to be a crafty thief on the defensive end.

Now, with his shooting percentages of 48.7 from deep and 86.4 from the foul line for a 2020-21 Utah team that owns the best record in the NBA, Ingles undeniably has a legit shot to earn far more love from his American fanbase in the coming weeks and months.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 20 Al Jefferson

Seasons with the franchise: Three (2010-11 to 2012-13)
Regular-season games played: 221
Averages as a Jazzman: 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.6 blocks
Shooting percentages: 49.4 from the field, 76.7 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: Four
Postseason averages: 18.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.8 blocks

Big Classic.

The three middle years of Al Jefferson’s prolific 14-year NBA career were spent in Salt Lake City. A former No. 15 overall selection from the 2004 NBA Draft out of Prentiss High School (Miss.), the big fella shined in the paint for largely middle-of-the-pack Jazz teams.

In each of his last two seasons with the franchise, Jefferson finished among the top 20 in the league in points per game. And in all three of his campaigns as a Jazzman, the 6-foot-10, 280-pound full-time starter at center finished among the top 15 in rebounds per game. Moreover, his 1.9 blocks per game in 2010-11 ranked No. 9 in the NBA that season.

A fairly efficient scorer around the rim. A consistently strong rebounder. A highly capable shot-blocker.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 19 Jeff Malone

Seasons with the franchise: Four (1990-91 to 1993-94)
Regular-season games played: 279
Averages as a Jazzman: 18.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 50.2 from the field, 88.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 30
Postseason averages: 19.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.1 blocks

Remember, Jeff Malone finished No. 2 on the team in scoring — behind the more well-known Malone, of course — in each of his four seasons with the Utah Jazz.

And all four of those Utah squads reached the postseason, with three of them winning at least one playoff series after tallying more than 50 wins in the regular season. The 1991-92 Jazz became the first in franchise history to reach the Western Conference Finals.

All in all, Jeff Malone was the third most important piece for Utah during the early 90s, trailing only Karl Malone and John Stockton in this regard. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard, a former No. 10 overall selection out of Mississippi State from the 1983 NBA Draft, was never an All-Star in Salt Lake City, yet he never averaged fewer than 16 points per game as a Jazzman.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 18 Bryon Russell

Seasons with the franchise: Nine (1993-94 to 2001-02)
Regular-season games played: 628
Averages as a Jazzman: 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 44.1 from the field, 37.1 from three, 74.7 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 96
Postseason averages: 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.3 blocks

OK, so Bryon Russell was on the receiving end of the push-off from Michael Jordan that instantly resulted in the Chicago Bulls winning the 1998 NBA Finals. Let’s get that tidbit out of the way since it is unfortunately the lasting image that many fans have of the strong defender.

Of course, without Russell’s perimeter defense, versatile scoring, and aggressive rebounding across 27.1 minutes per game for that Jazz team or across his 31.2 minutes per game for the one before it, chances are Utah wouldn’t have enjoyed quite that level of playoff success in those days.

A part-time starter throughout his nine years in Salt Lake City, the former second-rounder out of Cal State Long Beach averaged double-digit points four times. And most importantly, every Jazz squad the key athletic role player laced ’em up for wound up reaching the playoffs.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 17 Truck Robinson (New Orleans)

Seasons with the franchise: Two (1977-78 to 1978-79)
Regular-season games played: 125
Averages as a Jazzman: 23.2 points, 14.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 45.8 from the field, 67.1 from the foul line
Playoff games with New Orleans: None

While Truck Robinson evidently wasn’t all that happy as a Jazzman, requesting a trade after the 1977-78 season, he was certainly prolific in New Orleans.

During that 1977-78 season, in which he somehow managed to play all 82 games while averaging 44.4 minutes per game, the 6-foot-7, 225-pound Robinson scored 22.7 points per game to go along with 15.7 rebounds per game.

That rebounding average was good for No. 1 in the NBA that season and helped the former second-rounder out of Tennessee State secure a nod as a first-time All-Star. He also earned All-NBA First Team honors for his efforts that season while finishing in a tie for eighth place in the MVP voting.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 16 Gordon Hayward

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2010-11 to 2016-17)
Regular-season games played: 516
Averages as a Jazzman: 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks
Shooting percentages: 44.4 from the field, 36.8 from three, 82.0 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 15
Postseason averages: 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks

As a slashing and sharpshooting Jazzman, Gordon Hayward always seemed to be on the verge of full-fledged NBA stardom while playing for the franchise that drafted him No. 9 overall at the 2010 NBA Draft.

But more than half of the 6-foot-7, 225-pound versatile forward’s seasons in Salt Lake City ended with losing records. Plus, Hayward didn’t eclipse 20 points per game until his final Utah campaign in 2016-17 when he made his first and only All-Star Game.

His 21.9 scoring average that season still stands as his career-high. However, Hayward was approaching that mark this season, which is his first with the Charlotte Hornets after spending three years with the Boston Celtics, before spraining his foot two weeks ago.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 15 Thurl Bailey

Seasons with the franchise: 10 (1983-84 to 1991-92, 1998-99)
Regular-season games played: 708
Averages as a Jazzman: 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 1.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.4 from the field, 81.2 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 69
Postseason averages: 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.2 blocks

Big T.

Following NC State’s miracle run to win the 1983 NCAA Championship, the Utah Jazz used the No. 7 overall selection to nab the former Wolfpack star. Bailey, a multifaceted 6-foot-11 forward, instantly became a regular contributor in Salt Lake City, starting 54 games in his first year and earning All-Rookie honors.

Then as an NBA sophomore, Bailey became a more potent scorer, averaging 15.2 points to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. His scoring average didn’t fall back to single-digits until 1992-93 when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Also worth noting, he never played in fewer than 80 games in any of his first nine seasons with the Jazz.

As for his 10th campaign with the franchise, the mere fact that he came back to Utah in 1998-99 and then retired as a Jazzman earned him some brownie points on this ranking.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 14 Rickey Green

Seasons with the franchise: Eight (1980-81 to 1987-88)
Regular-season games played: 606
Averages as a Jazzman: 11.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.9 from the field, 82.0 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 36
Postseason averages: 11.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks

Fastest of Them All.

After snagging Rickey Green as a free agent in 1980, the Utah Jazz saw eight productive seasons from the 6-foot guard. A former No. 16 overall selection out of Michigan from the 1977 NBA Draft, the heralded Chicago native earned a starting job in the backcourt in six of those campaigns as a Jazzman.

Green’s lone All-Star season came in 1983-84 when the lightning defender led the NBA with his 2.7 steals per game (his 2.8 per game the season before was No. 2 in the league). Also, he finished among the top 10 in assists per game four times.

Sure, John Stockton eventually took center stage on the perimeter for Utah, and Green landed with the Charlotte Hornets in June 1988 via the expansion draft. But before Stockton and Karl Malone rose to supremacy in the franchise record books, Green stood as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists, steals, and games played.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 13 Mehmet Okur

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (2004-05 to 2010-11)
Regular-season games played: 474
Averages as a Jazzman: 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks
Shooting percentages: 46.2 from the field, 38.1 from three, 80.4 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 32
Postseason averages: 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks

Memo. Money Man.

As was the case for many guys on this ranking, Mehmet Okur enjoyed his most productive seasons as a pro while with the Utah Jazz.

A former second-round pick from Turkey who arrived in Salt Lake City as a free agent in 2004, fresh off his title run as a key reserve for the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons, the multifaceted stretch big man scored at least 12 points per game in all of his seasons in Utah except his last. Meanwhile, he also consistently grabbed seven or more rebounds per game.

Unfortunately, an Achilles tear in April 2010 all but ended the 6-foot-11, 250-pounder’s pro career. Still, Okur was a one-time All-Star as a Jazzman (2007) and was quite durable — playing in at least 72 games in each of his first six seasons with the franchise — up until his serious injury.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 12 Mark Eaton

Seasons with the franchise: 11 (1982-83 to 1992-93)
Regular-season games played: 875
Averages as a Jazzman: 6.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 steals, 3.5 blocks
Shooting percentages: 45.8 percent from the field, 64.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 74
Postseason averages: 6.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 2.8 blocks

True, Mark Eaton spent all 11 of his years in the NBA with the Utah Jazz, amassing the most blocked shots in franchise history. The former fourth-round pick out of UCLA wrapped up his playing days with 3,064 rejections. That still puts him No. 5 in NBA history. And his 3.5 average for his career remains unmatched all-time.

Heck, Eaton ranked among the top three in the NBA in blocks in each of his first seven seasons as a pro. The 7-foot-4, 275-pound lefthanded tower peaked at a remarkable 5.6 blocks per game in 1984-85, and he put up a season average of more than four per game on four different occasions.

Plus, he twice averaged double-digit rebounds and twice took home Defensive Player of the Year (1984-85, 1988-89).

However, Eaton, a former auto mechanic out of high school whose lone All-Star nod came alongside teammates Karl Malone and John Stockton in 1989, never averaged double-digit points.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 11 Andrei Kirilenko

Seasons with the franchise: 10 (2001-02 to 2010-11)
Regular-season games played: 681
Averages as a Jazzman: 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.0 blocks
Shooting percentages: 47.0 from the field, 31.2 from three, 76.3 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 45
Postseason averages: 10.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.9 blocks

AK-47.

Although the Utah Jazz didn’t immediately benefit from their No. 24 overall selection from the 1999 NBA Draft, Andrei Kirilenko did live up to expectations — and then some — beginning with the 2001-02 season. The intelligent Russian averaged double-digit points in all but one of his 10 campaigns with Jazz, also never averaging fewer than one block or one steal per game.

An All-Rookie First Team talent in 2001-02. A 2004 NBA All-Star.

Kirilenko was also a three-time recipient of All-Defensive Team honors (Second Team in both 2003-04 and 2004-05 then First Team in 2005-06). In all three of those years — reaching peak stats on both ends of the floor — the frequent swatter finished among the top three in the league in blocks per game, remarkably doing so as a mere 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward.

However, the Jazz never reached the playoffs during his most lethal three-year span.

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.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 9 Jeff Hornacek

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (1993-94 to 1999-00)
Regular-season games played: 477
Averages as a Jazzman: 14.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 49.4 from the field, 42.8 percent from three, 89.7 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 100
Postseason averages: 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks

Scarecrow. The Paperboy.

It’s safe to say that the move for Jeff Hornacek at the 1994 trade deadline turned out to be the critical piece of the Utah Jazz playoff puzzle, culminating in the group’s two NBA Finals appearances a few years later. It’s also safe to say that the former second-rounder out of Iowa State still deserves mention as one of the purest 3-point snipers in franchise history.

That’s not to mention the oh-so-reliable 6-foot-3 guard’s silkiness at the charity stripe. And we certainly can’t discuss Hornacek’s free throws without bringing up his unforgettable routine of letting his children know that he was thinking about them by simply stroking the side of his face before his freebie attempts.

Unless current Jazzman Jordan Clarkson keeps up his torrid pace at the foul line this season, Hornacek’s 95.0 free throw percentage across his final season in Salt Lake City will continue to stand as Utah’s record.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 8 Pete Maravich (NO and Utah)

Seasons with the franchise: Six (1974-75 to 1979-80)
Regular-season games played: 330
Averages as a Jazzman: 25.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 43.4 from the field, 82.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: None

Pistol Pete.

Plain and simple, despite his high scoring averages in most of his seasons as a Jazzman, No. 8 is as high as Pete Maravich can rank on this list nowadays given his lack of postseason appearances with the franchise. That said, the 6-foot-5 guard out of LSU, a North Carolina native, regularly put on a show in New Orleans and during the Jazz’s first season in Utah.

Maravich, a three-time All-Star while a Jazzman who came to New Orleans for the inaugural season in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks, ranked No. 1 in the NBA with his average of 31.1 points across the 1976-77 campaign. And he wound up No. 3 in the MVP race that year.

However, knee issues took their toll on Maravich.

After averaging only 17.1 points in 17 games for Utah in 1979-80, the Jazz waived the Hall of Fame legend. At age 32, Maravich then finished out his NBA career that same season with the Boston Celtics.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 7 Carlos Boozer

Seasons with the franchise: Six (2004-05 to 2009-10)
Regular-season games played: 354
Averages as a Jazzman: 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks
Shooting percentages: 54.4 from the field, 71.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 44
Postseason averages: 20.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks

Booz.

A former second-round pick out of Duke who grew up honing his footwork on ice in Juneau, Alaska, one would be hard-pressed to find many big men with smoother post moves than Carlos Boozer.

Fortunately for the Utah Jazz, the 6-foot-9 chiseled forward spent the bulk of his prime years in Salt Lake City, reaching the NBA All-Star Game in 2007 and 2008 (also All-NBA Third Team in 2007-08).

Needless to say, Boozer’s quick pivots in the paint, silky fadeaways, and strength on the boards were absolutely pivotal in the Jazz reaching the playoffs every year from 2006-07 to 2009-10 and seeing their fair share of success while there.

Also, we might as well throw in the tidbit here that Boozer’s triple-double in 2008 somehow still stands as the last one by a Jazzman during the regular season.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 6 Deron Williams

Seasons with the franchise: Six (2005-06 to 2010-11)
Regular-season games played: 439
Averages as a Jazzman: 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 46.6 from the field, 35.8 from three, 80.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 44
Postseason averages: 21.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks

D-Will.

As the former No. 3 overall draft pick from 2005, Deron Williams did not disappoint in Salt Lake City. Rather, after becoming an All-Rookie selection, the 6-foot-3 point guard out of Illinois earned two All-Star nods and also twice landed All-NBA honors.

Of course, it’s worth noting as well that Williams, along with Carlos Boozer and the rest of the talented gang in those days, guided the Utah Jazz back to postseason relevance. The franchise reached the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, which included a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2007.

Unfortunately, Williams and Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Sloan were no longer seeing eye to eye in 2010-11, resulting in the lively floor general’s midseason trade to the then-New Jersey Nets.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 5 Donovan Mitchell

Seasons with the franchise: Four (active)
Regular-season games played: 277
Averages as a Jazzman: 23.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks
Shooting percentages: 43.9 from the field, 36.2 from three, 82.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 23
Postseason averages: 27.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks

Spida.

If there is an active player who has a chance to one day catapult to No. 1 in this ranking, well, then that man is Donovan Mitchell. At age 24, the 6-foot-1 sturdy guard has already played in two All-Star Games.

ALSO READ: 3 MVP traits of Donovan Mitchell since All-Star break

Plus, Mitchell has finished among the league’s top 20 scorers in each of his four seasons since coming off the board No. 13 overall at the 2017 NBA Draft.

Currently, as the Utah Jazz reign in the Western Conference standings, Mitchell ranks No. 9 in the NBA at 26.5 points per game. With explosive drives, unguardable jukes, top-shelf hang time, and creative finishes, the Louisville basketball product is inching closer and closer to the MVP conversation.

And that honor plus a title ring would surely bump the New York product to at least No. 3 here…

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 4 Rudy Gobert

Seasons with the franchise: Eight (active)
Regular-season games played: 528
Averages as a Jazzman: 12.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 64.3 from the field, 62.9 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 32
Postseason averages: 13.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.9 blocks

The French Rejection. The Stifle Tower. Gobzilla.

Already a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Star, the 28-year-old Rudy Gobert continues to soar up the list of all-time Utah Jazz sensations. In fact, there is now little doubt that the 7-foot-1 shot-blocking genius is the No. 1 center in franchise history.

ALSO READ: 2 players threatening Rudy Gobert in DPOY race

However, given the long-limbed Frenchman’s persistent limitations on the offensive end of the floor from one year to the next in addition to the offensive prowess of his teammate from the previous slide here, Gobert is in danger of soon falling a spot on this list.

That said, given the Jazz’s league-leading record this season, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell both could soon pass this next star from the early 1980s…

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 3 Adrian Dantley

Seasons with the franchise: Seven (1979-80 to 1985-86)
Regular-season games played: 461
Averages as a Jazzman: 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.1 blocks
Shooting percentages: 56.2 from the field, 18.5 from three, 81.8 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 21
Postseason averages: 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.0 blocks

The Teacher.

Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley was a journeyman after going No. 6 overall at the 1976 NBA Draft. Yet his prime years came in Salt Lake City following his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979.

Coinciding with the early years of the next two guys on this list, the 6-foot-5 forward became one of the first well-known faces for the Utah Jazz before his trade to the Detroit Pistons in 1986. While not exactly a lockdown defender, Dantley was a six-time All-Star nonetheless and led the league in scoring twice: 1980-81 and 1983-84.

Now, Dantley continues to stand as the only Jazzman in history to average more than 30 points per game in four different seasons; obviously, Donovan Mitchell is likely the only present-day Utah player with any chance to someday match that feat.

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 2 Karl Malone

Seasons with the franchise: 18 (1985-86 to 2002-03)
Regular-season games played: 1,434
Averages as a Jazzman: 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks
Shooting percentages: 51.7 from the field, 27.5 from three, 74.2 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 172
Postseason averages: 26.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks

The Mailman.

A two-time league MVP and durable 14-time All-NBA force, the former No. 13 overall selection from 1985 played his first 18 pro seasons with the Utah Jazz before spending the 2003-04 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers leading up to his retirement.

Karl Malone, a 2010 Hall of Fame inductee, finished at and remains No. 2 in NBA history with his 36,928 points. He also ranks No. 7 all-time with his 14,968 career rebounds and No. 11 with his 2,085 career steals.

And again, as alluded to at the beginning of this list of all-time Utah Jazz players, since Malone’s battle for the top spot here with John Stockton was essentially a tie, it all came down to the intangibles department in the end…

All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 1 John Stockton

Seasons with the franchise: 19 (1984-85 to 2002-03)
Regular-season games played: 1,504
Averages as a Jazzman: 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 0.2 blocks
Shooting percentages: 51.5 from the field, 38.4 from three, 82.6 from the foul line
Playoff games with Utah: 182
Postseason averages: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.3 blocks

Stock.

Don’t undervalue him or the significance of an assist. Make that 15,806 of them — in the regular season alone — from the hands of John Stockton. Spanning a brilliantly consistent 19-year NBA career, he dished out nearly 4,000 more dimes than anyone else in league history.

Also putting today’s game to shame, the 2009 Hall of Fame inductee appeared in all 82 regular-season games 16 times.

The 6-foot-1 point guard first arrived in Salt Lake City via the No. 16 overall selection at the 1984 NBA Draft. He then never abandoned the franchise that picked him, becoming a 10-time All-Star and taking home All-Star Game co-MVP honors with Karl Marlone in 1993.

True, unlike his longtime teammate, Stockton never snagged any NBA MVP hardware despite Utah’s winning ways in its glory days. Of course, had Stockton not been on those squads, the general assumption is there’s no way Malone would have either.

In some eyes, even 18 years after his retirement, Stockton’s highlights still exemplify a “pure point guard” better than those of anyone anywhere who balled before or after his most memorable tenure with the Jazz.

Yes, via his smooth style as an exemplary leader while also serving as the band’s snazzy flow-producer with his keen feel and deft hand, Stockton’s on-court music will forever echo in Utah with his name synonymous to “Jazz” and its dictionary definition: “collective improvisation.”

John Stockton is indeed the most important and all-around greatest Jazzman. Ever. For Now.

Matt Giles

Site Expert of Ball Durham. Email: mgduke81@gmail.com