No downside has shown itself since the Utah Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. back in February. In fact, as time has gone on, the move has looked even better. It's even the little things that have made trading for him look good, like the fact that he has openly embraced Utah itself.
That came to light yesterday when JJJ shouted out "801 Day." For anyone unfamiliar, 801 is Salt Lake City's area code, so when August 1 shows up, there's a festival in Salt Lake City itself where residents get to celebrate. Jackson shouted it out the other day.
801 day đź’ś >
— JJJ (@jarenjacksonjr) August 1, 2026
He didn't have to do this, but going out of his way shows that he's both absorbing and enjoying Salt Lake City and Utah itself. Every Jazz fan knows about the team's reputation for not being a players' destination, but that has slowly but surely started to evaporate.
We have seen players like Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic show how much they've loved playing here. JJJ doing the same should not only dispel this narrative but should start a new one that Utah can be an appealing destination for players.
Doing so could keep the Jazz good for the long haul
Players have stayed with the Jazz for the long haul because they were able to keep a long-term playoff contender for years. Since the dissolution of the Karl Malone-John Stockton era, that hasn't been the case, but it's harder now to keep a playoff contender together than it was back in the 1980s and 1990s.
But if players continue to show how much they loved playing for Utah, that could help them long-term. Even ones who left the team on bad terms, like Deron Williams, have gone out of their way to praise both Utah and the Jazz organization itself.
Alumni like Derrick Favors have made it abundantly clear how much they loved playing for Utah even after they traded him twice, the second of which was an obvious salary dump.
The Jazz have made a conscious effort to try to make themselves more appealing to players. One would think that with all the losing that it would be worse than ever. Yet, here they are, about to embark on what will probably be their best season in years this coming season and it should get better from there.
With their prospects improving and players like JJJ indulging in Utah culture, it could go a long way in forming a new narrative that Utah is a players' destination, which could then help form their first title team.
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