The J-Notes
Fansided

Ranking the top-10 Guards in Utah Jazz history

By Nathan Smith

Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen (L) knocks the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Stockton 17 December during the first quarter of their NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by EUGENE GARCIA / AFP) (Photo by EUGENE GARCIA/AFP via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen (L) knocks the ball away from Utah Jazz guard John Stockton 17 December during the first quarter of their NBA game at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by EUGENE GARCIA / AFP) (Photo by EUGENE GARCIA/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz
Rickey Green of the Utah Jazz (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) /

7. Rickey Green

Career numbers: 11.4 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.3 RPG, 606 GP, 1984 NBA All-Star, 1984 NBA Steals leader. 

After moving to Utah from New Orleans, the Jazz franchise continued to struggle, but it was due to players like Rickey Green that they were able to move out of that phase, as he was integral to the teams first ever playoff berth, as he played hards on both ends of the floor and was an electric player for this franchise night in, night out. Green put together some great seasons in Utah, but his best was in 1984, when he tallied 13 points, 9 assists and 3 steals per game, en route to his first and only All-Star appearance, but ultimately, a young guy named John Stockton would come in and after a year or two of pressuring Green, would ultimately take the starting point guard spot from him.

Stockton would go on to become one of the greatest Jazz players of all-time, and due to this, Green is often overlooked, but his time in Utah should never be forgotten, as he was key in establishing the Jazz in Utah, and leading them into an era of prosperity with the likes of Adrian Dantley, Jeff Hornacek and the legendary duo of Stockton and Karl Malone.