Taylor Hendricks has the right mindset when it comes to helping out the Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz may have found a real one with Taylor Hendricks.

Over the last few decades, it seems like the only way the Utah Jazz are going to get great talent is if they trade for them or draft them. John Stockton, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler are just some of the names that the team has brought in via the draft or the trade (sometimes both) and built the team around. Sadly, a lot of players just don’t like the idea of moving to Salt Lake City, and it’s a shame because it’s a lovely place to live.

So the team relies on the draft a lot, and they need to hit on their draft picks more often than others due to the lack of major free agents coming to town. In 2023, the Jazz got three, Taylor Hendricks, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh, and right now, it seems like the rookie leading the way is George, but Hendricks may not be far behind.

George wants to be Rookie of the Year, but Taylor is more concerned about earning his minutes this year. A noble mindset, especially since, unlike George, Hendricks was a lottery pick, and lottery picks end up being the players most assume will play big minutes early.

Speaking to the press at the Jazz’s media day (via Sports Illustrated), Hendricks made it clear that the goal is to win and to help the Jazz in that endeavor, saying;

"Just playing my role. Just not being too worried about minutes I play, but just trying to help the team win."

Hendricks was also quick to put over his fellow rookies George and Sensabaugh, saying;

"It’s been a big-time blessing to go through this experience with two guys (Keyonte George and Bryce Sensabaugh) who I’ve known. I’m comfortable where I’m at, and we’ve been grinding it out together."

It seems like Hendricks is saying all the right things and if he’s truly as unselfish as his comments seem to suggest, then it’s likely the Jazz got a real one in the draft this year. Sadly for Hendricks, the Jazz seem pretty content with John Collins starting at power forward for now, but if Hendricks can show diversity with his defense, playing in the paint and on the perimeter, then the rookie may find himself getting big minutes after all.