The J-Notes
Fansided

Ranking the top 10 forwards in Utah Jazz history

By Nathan Smith

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Karl Malone (R) of the Utah Jazz battles for position with Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls 12 June during game five of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Bulls lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES: Karl Malone (R) of the Utah Jazz battles for position with Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls 12 June during game five of the NBA Finals at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The Bulls lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1977: Truck Robinson #21 of the New Orleans Jazz in action against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Robinson played for the Jazz from 1977-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Truck Robinson
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1977: Truck Robinson #21 of the New Orleans Jazz in action against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1977 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Robinson played for the Jazz from 1977-79. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Truck Robinson /

6. Truck Robinson

Career numbers: 23.2 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, 125 GP, 2-time NBA All-Star, 1 All-NBA selection.

Truck Robinson had a short lived run as a member of the New Orleans Jazz, but over his two years and 125 games with the team, he formed a dangerous combination with another Jazz legend, Pistol Pete Maravich. A dominant and skilled power forward, Robinson would have a solid 10-year NBA career, but it was the two he spent in New Orleans that stand out, even if the team struggled so much that they would soon be relocated to Utah to where we see them now.

Like Maravich, Robinson was certainly ahead of his time, and if he had come along 20-years later, the Jazz would have had themselves a star just as good as Karl Malone, but due to his short stint with the Jazz, he doesn’t find himself higher on the list.

The New Orleans Jazz were simply a failure, there’s no other way to put it. But thankfully, Robinson and Maravich made it a franchise worth saving, and if he had of been around when the team came to Utah a few years later, he no doubt would have been a key part of building the successful organization we see today.