Ranking every season in Utah Jazz franchise history

2006-07 Utah Jazz Record: 51-31, Lost in Western Conference Finals vs San Antonio Spurs 1-4

Of every Utah Jazz team we’ve covered in this list so far, this might be the first one that had a bonafide shot at winning the NBA championship.

All of the pieces were in place. They had a genuine superstar point guard in Deron Williams, who finished the season with averages of 16.3 points and 9.3 assists per game. They had great balance in their frontcourt, with Carlos Boozer devastating defenses with inside scoring, Mehmet Okur spacing the floor from the three-point line, and Andrei Kirilenko handling the bulk of the defensive responsibilities.

Quality rotation players like Matt Harpring, Ronnie Brewer, and a 32-year-old Derrick Fisher otherwise populated this roster. They had real potential to win it all, but ultimately fell short against the eventual champion Spurs.

If you’re noticing a trend here, you’re not alone. Throughout history, the Utah Jazz have made a regular habit of assembling the second-best team in the Western Conference, if not the entire NBA. Second best doesn’t earn you any trophies, but the organization does deserve credit for staying competitive.

The 2006-07 Utah Jazz were about as competitive as a team can get without hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.