The Utah Jazz didn't pull off the win against the Orlando Magic. It goes without saying that it was in their best interest to lose. However, today also marked the debut of prized acquisitionJaren Jackson Jr. It didn't take long for him to make an impression.
You can see Jaren Jackson Jr's fit within Utah's spacing and concepts. Second time they have ran this for him early, starts at the top and gets a backscreen. Magic switch it, Jazz go right to JJJ in the post. pic.twitter.com/o3n2DaQvxE
— Steve Jones (@stevejones20) February 8, 2026
Don't let the final score fool you. The Jazz controlled this game from beginning to the end of the third quarter, being up by as many as 17 at one point before resting most of their starters in the fourth. In so doing, they sent a message to the NBA: they're coming next season.
JJJ looks like a seamless fit on this team, doing exactly what Utah wants him to do: make threes, block shots, and give the team a jolt of energy they need to win games. Granted, they're not winning now, but the Jazz are making it clear in their games against playoff hopefuls that next season, teams better be ready for the hurricane that is coming their way.
He's not alone in that regard. Lauri Markkanen looked like Lauri Markkanen, putting up as many points as minutes played at 27. Isaiah Collier continues to look like the Jazz bet right on trading Walter Clayton Jr. instead of him, putting up a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists.
This Jazz team has every ingredient of a playoff contender that's only being held back by the prospect of adding another golden draft prospect.
Imagine adding that & Walker Kessler to this team
The overall point of games like this is not to look at the final score, but look at the one towards the end of the third quarter: 94-77. Utah was rolling, and if they kept at it, they would have had an impressive road victory over Orlando, no questions asked.
Now, imagine adding Kessler with a clean bill of health, along with another lottery pick, to this team. The Jazz's future is pretty much set for the next six to eight years, and potentially longer as Markkanen ages. There's just so much to like about this team now.
There already was before, but the addition of Jackson pretty much seals it for Utah. This upcoming of era of Jazz basketball is going to be some of the most fun we've seen from them since potentiall the Karl Malone-John Stockton days.
It is a little demoralizing that they not only didn't get the win, but went out of their way to make sure that they didn't. However, we need to keep in mind that this comes with the territory of tanking, and by April, it will all be over.