Utah Jazz: 5 best summer league players in history

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Terrence Ross (31) shoots over Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

#4: Alec Burks

Alec Burks, like Gobert, played two seasons for Utah in the Summer League. Burks played in 2012 and 2013 and averaged a cool 16 points on poor shooting. Burks is still in the league as a role player for the New York Knicks, and while he isn’t breaking any records he has carved out a decent career as a journeyman. His eight seasons with the Jazz were not his best, but he was an okay second option off the bench. In the Summer League, he put up a 31-point performance against the 76ers to win way back in 2012.

His 16-point average should have tipped anyone watching off that he would never be a star, but could carve out a solid role in the league. The fact that he lasted his long in the NBA shouldn’t be surprising: he added a three-point shot, which he never showed off in the summer.

Burks is fourth all-time in summer points per game for Utah, but being able to have that record with two full summers of play is fairly astounding.

#3: Rodney Hood

Rodney Hood played two summers for the Jazz in 2014 and 2015, and is still hanging on to his NBA career with the Clippers. His best years by far came with the Jazz, but in the summer he was not quite the scorer that Alex Burks was. So why does he pass Burks on the list? One word: efficiency.

Aside from total points, Hood was a much better all-around player. He could shoot, pass, and rebound better, and his defense was comparable, if not better. Hood is fifth in Utah summer scoring and fourth in minutes. He never erupted for over thirty, but he was a consistent 15ppg guy who knew how to find the open man. Despite averaging one less point than Burks, he comes in ahead simply because of his well-rounded game. Looking at his Summer League play, it’s a wonder he didn’t become a do-all starter in the league for more than two seasons.