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Source: https://slcdunk.com/rss/index.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0"
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<title type="text">SLC Dunk</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Utah Jazz news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-10-31T00:55:06+00:00</updated>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/rss/index.xml</id>
<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/rss/index.xml" />
<entry>
<author>
<name>James Hansen</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz announce rookie scale extensions]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-news/65071/utah-jazz-announce-rookie-scale-extensions" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65071</id>
<updated>2025-10-30T20:55:06-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-30T20:55:06-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[According to the Utah Jazz, they have exercised fourth-year rookie-scale team options on Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh. They also extended third-year rookie-scale team options on Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams. If you’re wondering about Kyle Filipowski, because he was a second-round pick, this doesn’t apply to him. It’s a good sign for […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2242787615.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,47.066666666667" />
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</figure>
According to the Utah Jazz, they have exercised fourth-year rookie-scale team options on Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh. They also extended third-year rookie-scale team options on Isaiah Collier and Cody Williams.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">We have exercised fourth-year rookie-scale team options on guard Keyonte George, forward Taylor Hendricks, and guard/forward Brice Sensabaugh and third-year rookie-scale team options on guard Isaiah Collier and forward Cody Williams.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeNote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeNote</a> <a href="https://t.co/UbcUfyH7Aj">https://t.co/UbcUfyH7Aj</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983991184445075799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
If you’re wondering about Kyle Filipowski, because he was a second-round pick, this doesn’t apply to him.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none">And a reminder, Kyle Filipowski was a second-round draft pick, so the rookie scale extension doesn't apply to him.— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1983992389539917961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
It’s a good sign for the Jazz that they’re making these signings and that we’ve seen development of their young core of players. Utah probably doesn’t have a superstar from their picks, but they’ve found some solid rotation players that are showing they can contribute to winning. 
It’s been rewarding watching these players grow into the players they are now. If Utah can continue to develop this group, they’ll be ready to surround the star player they eventually will bring on to the roster. We’ve seen them play well this season around Lauri Markkanen. What happens if they get lucky in the lottery and get a real superstar? The other key element this season will be to see how well Ace Bailey develops and how he integrates with this core. So far, it’s been pretty successful, but it’s still a work in progress.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>James Hansen</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz unveil 2025-26 city uniforms]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-news/65062/utah-jazz-unveil-2025-26-city-uniforms" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65062</id>
<updated>2025-10-30T18:24:41-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-30T18:24:41-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Utah Jazz released their new city edition uniforms and it was a play on the gradient that was a fan favorite of the past. Before they released they teased what they’d look like. Then at 10, the Jazz social team did a great job releasing the new look. It’s a mix of grey and […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/Lauri-Markkanen.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,81.44" />
<figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
The Utah Jazz released their new city edition uniforms and it was a play on the gradient that was a fan favorite of the past. Before they released they teased what they’d look like.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">we’ve always loved our city edition, and now it’s time for a fresh twist 🩶 10AM 🩵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeNote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeNote</a> <a href="https://t.co/MElZimGUyf">pic.twitter.com/MElZimGUyf</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983911857271582752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Then at 10, the Jazz social team did a great job releasing the new look. It’s a mix of grey and blue using the same gradient design.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">from the Salt Lake valley to Southern Utah, our mountains connect us all 🏔️🩵 on-court & on-sale 11.11 🗓️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeNote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeNote</a> <a href="https://t.co/VQBboUP4f8">pic.twitter.com/VQBboUP4f8</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983929426623803878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
There are some fun details to the different elements of the uniform like the state of Utah and the side trim that is apparently “the paths from Salt Lake City to St. George and Salt Lake City to Moab on each side of the uniform”
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none"><a href="https://t.co/IZPUVCKaEM">pic.twitter.com/IZPUVCKaEM</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983929507804541150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none">it features the paths from Salt Lake City to St. George and Salt Lake City to Moab on each side of the uniform!— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983935615327752408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Here are some additional views of the uniform.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none"><a href="https://t.co/9SisZOSXdk">pic.twitter.com/9SisZOSXdk</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1983929589010460916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Personally, I think this is a nice play on the gradient uniform that fans loved. It’s a clean design with an alternative option for fans looking for a unique jersey. It does use the same “Utah” lettering without saying the Jazz. Hopefully, in the future the Jazz will come up with a newer design playing off the name of the team. But overall, this is a job well done. The other question will be if this comes with a new court design. Having some sort of “gray”dient court would be cool if it’s done well. We’ll see if that comes with these.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Dray Mottishaw</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz vs Portland Trailblazers: Game Recap & a lot more!]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/65046/utah-jazz-vs-portland-trailblazers-game-recap-a-lot-more" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65046</id>
<updated>2025-10-30T00:11:42-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-30T00:11:42-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Game Coverage" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[If you did your best Chauncey Billups impression and bet on this game, I hate to break it to you, but you lost some money tonight. The Utah Jazz couldn’t quite get it done tonight vs the Portland Trailblazers in what ended up being a very close game after trailing big in the 4th, which […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2242363936.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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If you did your best Chauncey Billups impression and bet on this game, I hate to break it to you, but you lost some money tonight. The Utah Jazz couldn’t quite get it done tonight vs the Portland Trailblazers in what ended up being a very close game after trailing big in the 4th, which leaves the Utah Jazz with a record of 2-2 and an even .500 on the year. After winning the first quarter 44-33, the Blazers went on an 84-55 run in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, leaving the Jazz having to trail by 19 at the start of the 4th. The Jazz battled hard but fell short with the final score being 134-136. Blazers win.
Your starters for the night were: PG: Keyonte George SG: Svi Mykhailiuk SF: Lauri Markkanen PF: Kyle Filipowski C: Walker Kessler Another night using the towering 7-foot frontcourt with the hopes of disrupting the Blazers’ talented forwards/bigs in Donovan Clingan, Deni Avdija, and Jerami Grant.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Walker Kessler: Development</h2>
WALKER KESSLER: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3/4 3FG
I have been dying to talk about Walker Kessler. The big guy’s development, from what we have seen early on, has been a game-changer. I have never seen a shot, especially from a big, develop as quickly as Kessler’s. Suppose you look at every analytical indicator, dating back to his days in college, relating to Kessler’s 3pt trajectory. In that case, the numbers say that it would take quite a miracle (or just a really, really long time) for it to become a reality. I know that Walker Kessler has been compared to Brook Lopez in one way or another, but Lopez had a much better touch compared to Kessler, especially at the stripe. Now, time will tell if the shooting from Kessler is sustainable or if these first few games are just a fluke. However, the FT%, along with the 3PT%, is encouraging to say the least. I have nothing but love for Walker Kessler, too, and if he can shoot it with the confidence that he is showing, and at the rate he is, then you have a top 5 big in this league, EASILY. In tonight’s game, Walker Kessler was the most impactful player on the court, in my eyes. He had two or three impressive playmaking reads, and that is another developing part of his game. I don’t think that people grasp how significant a jump that Walker has taken in that department, either. Throughout his basketball career, Walker Kessler has been primarily a DHO, PnR roll-man, and offensive rebounder, and that keeps his usage up, but it doesn’t really do anything to his assist%. In Walker’s college career (he played at UNC & Auburn), he averaged a total 7% AST% and 19.6% USG%, which is a .36 assist-to-usage rate (AtoU) — for reference, the average AtoU for a drafted big man out of college is .38, so Walker Kessler was just below average in that category. Now, entering Kessler’s first season in the NBA, he increased that AtoU to .44 — there’s a lot more space in the NBA, and it’s a lot more organized, but here is the kicker… before tonight, Walker Kessler has a AtoU rate of .95 which is an increase of roughly 165% since his days in college and nearly 116% since entering the NBA.
Here are some visuals:
<img src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/output.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" /><img src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/output-1.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
Walker Kessler is a fantastic player, and it showed again tonight. He was relentless on the glass, a force to be reckoned with in the paint on both ends of the court, and an efficient finisher at the cup. Walker also had a clutch 4Q block on Shaedon Sharpe as the Jazz were rallying back. Why haven’t we paid this man his money yet? If the shot stays true, and the productivity everywhere else continues on a linear development trajectory, Walker Kessler could be in for a HUGE payday this summer — or hopefully any time before, if possible. For what it’s worth, I would love to see it happen.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lauri Markkanen: Still Finnish-ing</h2>
LAURI MARKKANEN: 32 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks.
There’s not much to say other than the fact that Lauri Markkanen is still a fantastic player. He uses his length in so many ways and uses it to his advantage on both ends of the floor. If you haven’t played 2K26 this year, there are these cheesy players that you can make where you are 7’4 and can shoot over anybody without seeing a contest — Lauri Markkanen is like that. Every time Lauri shoots the basketball, I feel like it’s going in — he is truly an unbelievable marksman, and he can do a whole lot more than that. He had one play tonight vs the Blazers where he grabbed the defensive rebound and ran the whole court, while bumping into a defender, for a quick transition dunk. I am not surprised Lauri Markkanen is still on this Utah Jazz roster. He can fit into almost any NBA offense with his ability to play off the basketball, which should make him very valuable for teams that have a superstar, which is why we are keeping him, for when we do get our superstar. However, the Jazz are going to have to do that through the draft, and all we can do is pray that the Utah Jazz are bad enough for that to happen. Unless the Jazz decide that trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo is a better option, and I wouldn’t put it past the Jazz & the Ainge brigade to do so, barring whatever happens in May or where they sit prior to the draft lottery.
He was picking apart the Blazers tonight on offense and was carrying quite the defensive load as he tallied 6 stocks. He’s just so hard to stop. Someone trade for him so we can tank in peace (please, I need a top 3 pick, or I will go into psychosis).
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ace Bailey: Bouncing Back</h2>
ACE BAILEY: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Before tonight’s game, Ace Bailey was struggling to make a bucket. Now, there are many theories as to why that was, but it was really nice to see Ace have a solid game for a rookie. It looks like the minutes restriction is still on for Ace as well because he ended the night only playing 15 minutes in small spurts. He is someone whom I didn’t have as high as others on draft night (10th on my final big board before the draft), and I was excited for him because, as many have said, Utah was, and still is, the best place for his development — and yes, I would have had him higher (probably around 7th-9th) if I had known that he was coming here. There are going to be many games where Ace will look like he did in the games before tonight (especially as a rookie), there will be games where he looks like how he did tonight, and then there will be games where he surpasses anything we have seen before as he progresses and gets older. I’ve seen the discussions where Ace is being painted as our future guy and someone who can be the guy who runs our entire offense down the road, and I disagree with that at face value. I think Ace Bailey shouldn’t be your offensive engine because, in most cases, offensive engines make everybody on the team better, rather than primarily being a good individual player. I think there’s an outcome where Ace is a really good individual player and can impact the game in a variety of ways, but as far as elevating everyone else’s game, I’m not sure if he’ll fit the bill down the road. Now, I know that Ace Bailey is very young, and I know that I just talked about Walker Kessler breaking some statistical probabilities early on, but the odds are low. I want to make it clear that I am not hating on Ace as a player at all. I am saying that if he just improves what he is already good at, instead of trying to go into unfamiliar territory, then he can be a really solid, productive, and valuable player down the line. In short, I think the expectations for this kid need to be tempered more than what’s being said online.
The dynamics of Ace Bailey and Lauri Markkanen make me a skeptic as well. Offensively, Ace is really good at coming off screens, pin downs, and cutting. As our projected forwards/wings going forward, based on what we can gather from the mouths of the FO, it’s going to be intriguing to see what Will Hardy has in store for us as we continue building the next iteration of the Utah Jazz.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters:</h2>
PORTLAND NOTES:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Shaedon Sharpe had a big 2Q where he scored 11 points in a quick 6 minutes, just lighting it up from 3. I think he’s a fun player to watch and is comparable to Zach LaVine’s early years.</li>
<li>Donovan Clingan is a massive dude with crazy anthros. He is so disruptive and intimidating at the rim; on the defensive side of the court, Clingan finished with 3 blocks, 1 steal, and 7 rebounds. The Blazers have something with him going forward. I’ve been watching him for a long time and continue to be impressed.</li>
<li>Jerami Grant was a problem to deal with early on, and I believe Will Hardy called a timeout and got mad at Svi Mykhailiuk for letting him get off 2 consecutive threes in the first couple of minutes of the game.</li>
<li>Overall, the Blazers have some defenders on their roster. Camara, Grant, Holiday, Clingan, Wesley, and even Avdija at times all hold their own and apply pressure from multiple angles.</li>
</ul>
JAZZ NOTES:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The ball just doesn’t seem to go in often for Keyonte George. He had a great 4Q, and he got to the FT line at will tonight (15/15 FT), but the shooting off the dribble and finishing continues to be inconsistent. I really like Key as a person, and he’s had a fantastic summer, so I hope he figures it out.</li>
<li>Ace Bailey still plays great when Nurkic is on the floor. I am not mad at the Collin Sexton trade because of how beneficial Jusuf is for Ace’s game. I would sacrifice Sexton again for the same purpose.</li>
<li>Walt had another “Welcome to the league” game and struggled to score the ball. I think he plays very maturely, and I enjoy watching his pace and what he does on the defensive end of the court this early on in his career. He is my personal preference at the guard spot going forward.</li>
<li>I always love seeing Hendricks healthy on the court. It’s unfortunate he’s being overshadowed by some other developing young forwards on our roster because I think he provides a defensive and rebounding edge that the others don’t bring at the same level he does. We just have so many non-ball-handling forwards, so it’s hard for him to play otherwise; the offense will grow stagnant.</li>
<li>I actually enjoyed the Brice Sensabaugh minutes. I think he was active on defense, grabbed a handful of rebounds, and took some good shots. He only played 15 minutes, so my enjoyment was short-lived.</li>
<li>Svi got minutes.</li>
</ul>

]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Calvin Barrett</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[The Downbeat: Keyonte George’s transformation goes deeper than you may realize]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-analysis/65030/the-downbeat-keyonte-georges-transformation-goes-deeper-than-you-may-realize" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65030</id>
<updated>2025-10-28T22:07:40-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-29T07:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz Analysis" /><category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="The Downbeat" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[IT WOULD BE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE if your focus wasn’t beaming onto Utah’s Keyonte George at the moment. Lauri Markkanen just assaulted Phoenix for a career-high 51 points on Monday, and appears to be back in All-Star form (who could have foreseen?). The Jazz, in turn, have apparently discarded all blueprints for their hole-in-the-ground residence at […]]]></summary>
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<![CDATA[
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2243321569.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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IT WOULD BE EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE if your focus wasn’t beaming onto Utah’s Keyonte George at the moment. Lauri Markkanen just assaulted Phoenix for a career-high 51 points on Monday, and appears to be back in All-Star form (<a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/64022/the-downbeat-lauri-markkanen-international-excellence-is-making-me-believe">who could have foreseen?</a>). The Jazz, in turn, have apparently discarded all blueprints for their hole-in-the-ground residence at the bottom of the NBA standings, and instead have delicately and deliberately placed each and every one of their eggs into the woven basket labeled ‘winning time’. Through three games, this team boasts a winning record, and their only loss has arrived in the form of a one-point deficit in Sacramento.
Meanwhile, Walker Kessler’s contract status and future with the team loom, and the defensive specialist <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4433136/walker-kessler">has yet to miss a shot this year</a> — from both within and without the three-point arc (heinous). Brice Sensabaugh has emerged as a silky smooth scorer, orchestrating the shifting symphony with rhythm and finesse that encapsulates the essence of Jazz more than just about any Utah player in recent memory. Ace Bailey’s illness has us wondering if his preseason delicacies were a one-time-only offering from his NBA basketball oven (though probably not, right? Right?).
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>In case you haven’t noticed, Keyonte George has been capital-A Awesome.</blockquote></figure>
See, just like that, we already forgot this article was about Keyonte. Call it the whirlwind of the early season. Blame it on overreactions and a small sample size. Make any number of claims you wish, but I’d like to draw the spotlight to Utah’s third-year point guard out of Baylor and keep it there for a while. Because, in case you haven’t noticed, Keyonte George has been capital-A Awesome in the early season.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">Keyonte George stats through 3 games:</h3>
20.0 points 9.7 assists (drooling all over my keyboard over this) 69.6% 2PT 18.2% 3PT (work to do) 94.7% FT 3.0 rebounds 1.0 steals 3.7 turnovers
Keyonte’s role with the Jazz has been a challenging adjustment for a hooper who grew up as a score-first guy. In high school at IMG Academy and in college within Scott Drew’s Baylor program, he was handed the ball for one reason and one reason only: to put the ball in the basket.
And he was good. He racked up 15.2 points per contest as a freshman and earned accolade upon accolade. All-Big 12, Conference Rookie of the Year, and the All-Freshman team (obviously) were stars glued onto Key’s ‘good noodle’ board in large part thanks to his inclination to fill up the point column. But here was the catch: he wasn’t efficient, and that sent him sliding on draft night. Scraping by on 33.8% from three-point range and 33.7% from the field entirely (does not compute), his upside as a scorer projected to be confined to a complementary capacity. Maybe a sixth man off the bench who could be good for a heat-check every few games?
Utah’s front office saw all of this and understood Keyonte’s drawbacks in his primary toolbox. But beneath the surface, the Jazz bet on playmaking upside. Yeah, playmaking upside for a player who averaged more turnovers than assists during his lone year in college, that’s rich (this is a viewpoint that I dissuade you from clutching to).
George has had his fair share of detractors in his two full seasons of NBA action, of course, and even now in his third year, plenty still deem him doomed to stumble to the bench once the Jazz can draft a suitable lead guard to make a playoff push. This year, though, there’s something different about Keyonte. Call it the ‘eye test’, or maybe it’s just the way he’s carried himself on and off the court, but there is something starkly different about Utah’s 22-year-old point guard in the infancy of the 2025-26 season, and it’s showing up on the stat sheet.
His playmaking chops are astonishing this year, tallying nearly ten dimes per contest. Will Hardy has Keyonte leading the offense for 35 minutes per night this year, and with that, he’s been sprinkling the sugar in every which way.
With the ball in his hands, George has played spring-loaded. He’s perpetually poised to snap into any direction, and a tight control over his dribble has him penetrating the defense and swirling the opposition in every way he deems suitable. A crossover, drop step, rocket launch past the first line of resistance forces a rotation, that rotation shifts the entire defense, and suddenly, the possession is putty in Keyonte’s hand. The master craftsman shall mold this offensive set in any shape he wishes; do not resist.
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>The possession is putty in Keyonte’s hand. The master craftsman shall mold this offensive set in any shape he wishes; do not resist.</blockquote></figure>
I’ve fallen in love with his one-legged runner. Once he breaches the defensive outer wall, Keyonte has found a haven around 7-10 feet from the rim, where he’ll elevate and hang to kiss the rock off the glass and into the woven nylon. It’s a reliable and replicable attempt for a guard whose mass tends to be dwarfed among the giants near the paint, forcing the rim-protection to make a decision. That dilemma demands his adversaries choose: take your chances with this shot or leave your assignment to contest. Either decision can be death for a defense — 20 points and 9.7 assists per game, remember — and he’s been raking it in in the early season.
There exists a patience — a maturity — that had been missing in his rookie and sophomore campaigns. It’s not night and day; we saw flashes and moments of this type of production from George in recent years and in a variety of capacities. But his progress is undeniable. He gets to the foul line for easy points — easy points that he’s cashing in above 95% of the time. He takes shots in rhythm (with a few gut check chucks sprinkled in that I’d love to see eviscerated from his appetite). He gets his teammates involved. He’s making good basketball decisions and doing it at a reliable rate.
Just take a look at the go-ahead basket in the most recent game against Phoenix. George rounds the Kessler screen and pulls up on the reins to size up his switch. Grayson Allen squares his shoulders to the ball handler. The corner of Keyonte’s mouth rises as confidence flashes across his eyes. Markkanen (Mr. 50-ball himself) wraps around an off-ball wall and darts to the lane. The Suns are absorbed by the approaching star’s gravity, and Keyonte plays the comet, slinging his momentum against the grain and locking his hips ahead of the helpless defender. The help approaches, though a moment too late. Basketball to backboard. Backboard to scoreboard. Poetry in sneakers.
(Skip to 1:45 in the embedded video to see the final bucket)
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Keyonte George 26-5-10 (8/18 FG, 8/8 FT) <a href="https://t.co/85gd5h7xXS">pic.twitter.com/85gd5h7xXS</a>— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsherNBA/status/1983235094098645186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Still, there exists some lingering sourness behind the stat line. His turnovers, in tandem with rising assist numbers, are alarmingly high. Tied for 10th in the NBA at 3.7 cough-ups, Keyonte’s tendency to cough up possession is a metric to track. As great as his rising assist numbers make us feel, an offense can only operate if it retains possession. Still, the season is young, and Keyonte’s giveaway average is marginal when compared with some admittedly prestigious distributors across the league. Stephon Castle (6.7), Devin Booker (6.0), and Cade Cunningham (5.7) have been even sloppier with the basketball, and each of these top three giveaway leaders is universally accepted to be an excellent offensive player.
Even on defense, a realm where Keyonte’s power is muted, flying block attempts, timely steals, and a healthy habit of — what’s the word — effort have been refreshing to witness, even if he’ll never become an all-world ball stopper on the perimeter.
In just three regular-season games, however, Keyonte’s shortcomings have appeared as more of a side-effect of increased production than symptoms of inadequacy. Once his three-point percentage reverts back to the mean (as I expect it should), there won’t be many gaps in his armor to poke at and claim he hasn’t improved. Nearly across the board, this point guard is a bona fide NBA producer, and a darn good one at that.
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>Keyonte’s shortcomings have appeared as more of a side-effect of increased production than symptoms of inadequacy.</blockquote></figure>
A recent soundbite taken from the locker room suggests that there is much more to his improvement than reps in the gym. The mental game has taken hold of Utah’s youngster, and he’s found progress in reaching back.
“I feel like I’ve always had good character, but the mental piece of the game is a big piece.” George released. “I think I’ve really bought into that part. It helps having [Kevin] Love right here next to me, who’s spoken out about that stuff. […] his feedback has really been helping me.”
“You hear about sport psychology, you hear about therapy, and a lot of people just say they may not need it. But for me, it’s been real good for me to talk to somebody else that has no clue about me, has no opinion about me — they’re just listening. I’m feeding them good things, bad things, and they’re just listening. […] It took a weight off my shoulders just knowing that somebody else knows what I’m going through. […] It feels so good knowing I can just go out here and play with a clear mind.”
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">You’ve probably heard about Keyonte George’s improved maturity this year, but it may not be obvious just watching him on the court. Here he is from last night talking about what changed for him this summer. This is a different person than the kid who the Jazz drafted in 2023. <a href="https://t.co/kpusFEcEkr">pic.twitter.com/kpusFEcEkr</a>— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1983280296796795129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Keyonte George isn’t just improving on the court. It’s not just his stats, numbers, percentages, or other trivial digits that show he’s making strides. Utah’s point guard is working on himself, his mind, and his mentality as he approaches the game of basketball. Kevin Love’s addition to the locker room has invited a spirit of openness, honesty, and growth with his teammates. 
For Keyonte, especially, his growth has been unmistakable.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<a href="https://calvinbarrettwriting.wordpress.com/portfolio/">Calvin Barrett</a> is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">NBA</a> and <a href="https://lawlessrepublic.com/">College Sports</a> since 2024.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Calvin Barrett</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz square off against the Portland Trail Blazers in SLC: preview, injuries, how to watch]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/65037/utah-jazz-square-off-against-the-portland-trail-blazers-in-slc-preview-injuries-how-to-watch" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65037</id>
<updated>2025-10-28T22:56:57-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-28T22:56:57-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz Game Preview" /><category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Game Coverage" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[When will the madness end? The Utah Jazz are 2-1 to open the 2025-26 NBA season, having only lost one game by a single point on the year. Walker Kessler hasn’t missed a three-pointer, nor has he missed from anywhere else on the floor. Lauri Markkanen and his granite biceps chistled by Finnish Michelangelo himself […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2243322863.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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When will the madness end? The Utah Jazz are 2-1 to open the 2025-26 NBA season, having only lost one game by a single point on the year. Walker Kessler hasn’t missed a three-pointer, nor has he missed from anywhere else on the floor. Lauri Markkanen and his granite biceps chistled by Finnish Michelangelo himself (would that be Wäinö Aaltonen? Maybe I’m not the right person to discuss Finnish sculptors and art history) <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/65000/suns-vs-jazz-player-grades-markkanen-drops-50">stamped 51 points on the heads of the Phoenix Suns</a>, marking the first time since Karl Malone in 1998 that a Jazzman had eclipsed the half-century mark on the box score.
What fresh hell awaits proponents of the tank? Those who pledge allegiance to the art of losing basketball games must be most displeased with their team’s proclivity to win basketball games and further damage their chances of signing one of Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, or Darryn Peterson.
But two wins do not a season make, and the Jazz will have another clash loaded up as they host their division rivals (divisions, remember those?), the Portland Trail Blazers, on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City’s Delta Center.
Portland will be without Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, and Robert Williams III for this one, with defensive specialist Mattise Thybulle listed as questionable in the most recent injury report.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">INJURY REPORT 10/29 @ UTA: OUT: Scoot Henderson (L Hamstring Tear) Damian Lillard (L Achilles Tendon) Robert Williams III (G League – On Assignment) QUESTIONABLE: Matisse Thybulle (R Hip Soreness)— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrailBlazersPR/status/1983335538888487228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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This feels like an opportune moment to pull out the Utah Jazz side of the injury listings, where you won’t find many surprises. Isaiah Collier and Georges Niang remain out with the same ailments that have kept them street clothes-bound courtside all season. Though Jusuf Nurkic is a new addition, thanks to a recently received hip contusion. He’s listed as questionable to appear in action.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@utahjazz</a> injury report against the <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@trailblazers</a>: OUT – Isaiah Collier (Hamstring Strain) OUT – Georges Niang (Left Foot) OUT – John Tonje (G League – Two-Way) OUT – Oscar Tshiebwe (G League – Two-Way) QUESTIONABLE – Jusuf Nurkic (Right Hip Contusion)— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1983311191129915553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Portland will be favored in this one, as they enter with a 2-2 record and a host of experienced and grizzled players populating their roster. In place of DeAndre Ayton, who’s being himself in Los Angeles, they’ve got big-bodied Donovan Clingan. In place of Anfernee Simons, they’re running with Jrue Holiday (who’s averaging a very nice 7.6 assists per game). Deni Avdija leads all scorers with 23.5 points per contest. Shaedon Sharpe — my beloved walking highlight film — will suit up to soar in this one, and if you’re lucky, you may even get a glimpse of Yang Hansen, Portland’s shocking first-round draft pickup, who has won the hearts of the nation with his amazing playmaking skills, which were on full display at the NBA Draft Combine.
So yeah, be there or be square.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">How to watch Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers</h2>
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM MT Tip-off Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT Channel: Jazz+, KJZZ
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<a href="https://calvinbarrettwriting.wordpress.com/portfolio/">Calvin Barrett</a> is a writer, editor, and prolific Mario Kart racer located in Tokyo, Japan. He has covered the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">NBA</a> and <a href="https://lawlessrepublic.com/">College Sports</a> since 2024.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Sam Foster</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[The Utah Mammoth are making me nostalgic for high-level, playoff Utah Jazz basketball]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-analysis/64993/the-utah-mammoth-are-making-me-nostalgic-for-high-level-playoff-utah-jazz-basketball" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=64993</id>
<updated>2025-10-28T22:17:44-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-28T22:17:44-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz Analysis" /><category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="The Downbeat" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Utah Mammoth have been such a welcome addition to the Beehive State. For a state that has a very small and limited history with the sport, seeing the team explode within our communities has been a pleasant experience. From lifelong fans to beginners who don’t even know what they are looking at — my […]]]></summary>
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The Utah Mammoth have been such a welcome addition to the Beehive State.
For a state that has a very small and limited history with the sport, seeing the team explode within our communities has been a pleasant experience. From lifelong fans to beginners who don’t even know what they are looking at — my grandma — everyone has gladly hopped on the tusk train.
The new mascot, Tusky, is already an NHL favorite, the home sweaters are some of the most beautiful in the league and the in-game experience has been a blast every time I’ve gone to the Delta Center to cheer on the boys in black and mountain blue.
But there’s one thing that the Mammoth have going for themselves that makes me salivate at the thought of it: A definite playoff roster this year, and a definite playoff roster for years to come.
That’s something the Utah Jazz haven’t had going on four years now.
<img src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2242151995.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=3.3953287197232,0,93.209342560554,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
The Mammoth’s win over Winnipeg on Sunday boosted their record to 8-2-0, and they now sit in first place of not only the central division, but the Western Conference. That’s an .800 win percentage in only the second year of the franchise. A larger than life gift to Utahns.
I have not had this much fun with one of my favorite professional sports teams since the Utah Jazz boasted the No. 1 record in the entire association in 2020-21. It was such an exciting feeling to not just think that your team can win the finals, but to actually have some merit behind it. Yes, the Jazz’s season didn’t end how many would have liked and it more or less derailed the organization’s faith in actually winning the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy with that makeup of players, but for a moment, the faith wasn’t misplaced. It was real.
<img src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-1233383780.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
That’s how I feel with this Mammoth team. While still very early in the season, winning on the road against Winnipeg and getting the best of the much more established Colorado Avalanche show that this team’s record isn’t a fluke. It can — it will — make the playoffs. And with the Stanley Cup Playoffs, anything can happen.
It’s also a great feeling knowing that for the rest of the decade, the Mammoth will be in the playoffs more often than not. Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, JJ Peterka and Karel Vejmelka will all be on this team for the foreseeable future, and will only continue to get better as their young careers progress. It’s something that fills my heart with hope.
Can the Utah Jazz get back to this level? Even if it’s not that historic 2021 season where they grabbed the No. 1 seed, for four years before that and one year after, making the playoffs was never a question. Even as bad as some of those playoff exits were, it was nice to win 50-ish games a season. It was nice to be on national television in April and May.
Can the Jazz have their own promising young core of Ace Bailey, Walt Clayton Jr., Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George and whatever other young players you’d like to throw into that mix? Or will they always be potentially, maybe, possibly promising — which is where they are right now?
While the Mammoth’s success has been great, the idea of both the Jazz and the Mammoth having playoff battles at the same time as one another makes me excited for the state of Utah. 
The Mammoth are doing their part. Now it’s up to the Jazz.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>James Hansen</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns: recap and final score]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/65005/utah-jazz-vs-phoenix-suns-recap-and-final-score" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=65005</id>
<updated>2025-10-28T00:49:15-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-28T00:49:15-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Game Coverage" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[In easily the craziest game of the season so far, the Utah Jazz pulled out a close win against the Phoenix Suns in overtime 138-134. The story of the game was Lauri Markkanen, who scored 51. It’s the first 50-point game for a Jazz player since Karl Malone in 1998. Markkanen showed that with high-level […]]]></summary>
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In easily the craziest game of the season so far, the Utah Jazz pulled out a close win against the Phoenix Suns in overtime 138-134.
The story of the game was Lauri Markkanen, who scored 51. It’s the first 50-point game for a Jazz player since Karl Malone in 1998.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Lauri Markkanen's 51-point game tonight is the first regular season 50-point game for the Jazz since Karl Malone in 1998.— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) <a href="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/1983021622283075804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Markkanen showed that with high-level point guard play, he can still be an elite scoring option off the ball. In this one, he shot 14/32 from the field, 6/13 from three (46.2%), and was 17/17 from the free throw line. He also grabbed 14 rebounds and 3 assists.
Speaking of high-level point guard play, Keyonte George is becoming the guard the Jazz are looking for. He was fantastic, scoring 26 points and dishing 10 assists. He still needs to figure out the shooting (he was just 2/9 from three), but he was a solid 8/18 from the field and went 8/8 from the free-throw line. George is also playing bettter defense when he’s on the floor. It’s great to see him come this far. It also has to be said that he is finally being given the opportunity to run the offense without players like Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton taking all the shots and controlling every aspect of the offense. It is also very apparent that Lauri Markkanen is benefiting a great deal from George’s high-level play.
It has to be said that this was against a Suns team that was missing Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. It took everything the Jazz had to win and probably foreshadows some struggles down the road. Utah’s bench came in and struggled to stop the Suns, who clawed back from a 20-point deficit in the first quarter. Brice Sensabaugh struggled mightily in this one, going 1/5 from the floor and 0/4 from three. He was a team worst -25 and ended up with just 11 minutes.
Speaking of low minutes, the Jazz continue not to prioritize Ace Bailey. It’s a confusing experience for fans who were very excited to watch Bailey play, only to see Svi Mykhailiuk get all of his minutes. And it’s not that Mykhailiuk isn’t playing well, he was a team-leading +28 and had a 50/40/100 line. But there’s something weird about the message that is being sent. Will Hardy clearly wants to win and doesn’t think that playing Ace Bailey with the starters will lead to wins. He’s probably right in the short term. Mykhailiuk is shooting it well and looks like he makes all the right decisions in Will Hardy’s offense. But for fans, it feels strange. The excitement to see Ace Bailey was palpable before the season. His play in the preseason was electric at times, but with Lauri Markkanen and all the starters back, he’s been put in the back seat. But that hasn’t stopped the Jazz from marketing him. Multiple posts are showing him as if he’s playing.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">🆙 at the half! <a href="https://t.co/0QiY8vrtLC">pic.twitter.com/0QiY8vrtLC</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1982993830388600836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Before the game, they released this video with Thurl Bailey.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">. <a href="https://twitter.com/bigTbailey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigTbailey</a> checked in with <a href="https://twitter.com/AiriousB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AiriousB</a> to chat all things Utah and getting adjusted to the league 🤝 watch Bailey to Bailey, out now on YouTube 📺 <a href="https://t.co/n9dVX225KA">https://t.co/n9dVX225KA</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeNote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TakeNote</a> <a href="https://t.co/4pWRm933lh">pic.twitter.com/4pWRm933lh</a>— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1982857719255339271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And then he plays 13 minutes and sits in the corner for most of the game. Is he sick? Is he hurt? More likely, it’s that Will Hardy doesn’t believe playing him is going to help the team get a win right now. So we’re left in this weird conundrum, and it’s not clear when that will change. It may be a while before Jazz fans get to see Ace Bailey play regularly. Who knows when that change will come, but the Jazz have set themselves up for some uncomfortable choices soon. They’re “playing to win” but not exactly dominating good teams. Tyler Gillespie was an important part of this Suns team, and they barely won; they couldn’t beat the Kings close and beat up on a lazy Clippers team in the opener. Maybe the Jazz get better from here, but there are likely some tough decisions ahead.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Sven Karabegovic</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Suns vs. Jazz Player Grades: Markkanen Drops Career-High 51 Points]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/65000/suns-vs-jazz-player-grades-markkanen-drops-50" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/65000/mavericks-vs-jazz-player-grades-a-surprise-top-grade</id>
<updated>2025-10-28T13:01:57-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-28T00:02:50-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Game Coverage" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Behind a career-high from Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz sneak out of the Delta Center with their first overtime win of the season. Here are the grades from tonight. (Note on Grading Scale) All performances are relative. We won’t expect the same from Jusuf Nurkic as we do Lauri Markkanan. That said, if someone plays well, […]]]></summary>
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Behind a career-high from Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz sneak out of the Delta Center with their first overtime win of the season. Here are the grades from tonight. 
(Note on Grading Scale)
All performances are relative. We won’t expect the same from Jusuf Nurkic as we do Lauri Markkanan. That said, if someone plays well, they get a good grade. If they play poorly, they get a bad grade. Don’t take it too seriously, it’s just for fun!
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lauri Markkanen – A+</h2>
Markkanen notched Utah’s first 50-point game in over 10,000 days. He finished with 51 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists – marking his second 30+ point game in as many nights. This is the All-Star level play we hoped Markkanen would return to this season. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keyonte George – A</h2>
George’s growth as a playmaker this season has been astounding. He finished the night with 10 assists, but more importantly, played in command, under control, and led an efficient offense. His 26 points–including a few clutch baskets–were a great addition as well. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Walker Kessler – A</h2>
After struggling in Sacramento, Kessler responded with force tonight. He finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Giving up offensive rebounds late in games remains a problem, but his clutch block on Royce O’Neale makes up for it. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taylor Hendricks – C-</h2>
Hendricks struggled to make himself visible tonight. He grabbed six rebounds, but missed every shot. Hendricks’ skillset lends himself better to a starting role and I hope the Jazz give him a shot there soon. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brice Sensabaugh – D+</h2>
Sensabaugh’s +/- of minus-25 was the worst of any Jazz player tonight. When his shot isn’t falling, Sensabaugh’s defensive struggles become much more visible. Tonight, he was back cut, asleep on screens, and slow to close out. His 11 minutes are a reflection of Hardy’s thoughts on his effort at that end of the floor. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ace Bailey – C+</h2>
Bailey’s biggest pre-draft concern was his shot selection. After hitting his first two triples of the night, Bailey forced a number of difficult looks. Some nights, Bailey will hit those and look like a superstar. But few players in the NBA make it that way. For now, his road to success will start with finding better looks. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kyle Filipowski – C-</h2>
Like Sensabaugh, Filipowski struggled on the defensive end. He was picked on by the larger and more athletic Mark Williams and Nick Richards. When his shot isn’t falling, he simply must provide more resistance on defense. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Walter Clayton Jr. – B</h2>
Clayton Jr. finished fouled out with six points and two turnovers, but still finished the night on the floor. Why? He was active on defense, moved the ball, and didn’t take bad shots. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jusuf Nurkic – B</h2>
Despite some unnecessary turnovers, Nurkic remains a wonderful option at the backup center. He finished the night with seven points and 13 rebounds.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Svi Mykhailuk – B</h2>
Mykhailuk deserves credit where credit is due. He scored 11 points and grabbed four steals. He plays with great energy, despite many fans complaining about him holding the starting role. 

]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Kato Parina</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns preview: What can they learn from their first-season loss?]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/utah-jazz-game-coverage/64986/utah-jazz-vs-phoenix-suns-preview-what-can-they-learn-from-their-first-season-loss" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=64986</id>
<updated>2025-10-27T18:13:35-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-27T18:11:10-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz Game Preview" /><category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Game Coverage" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Jazz massively overachieved in their first two outings of the NBA Season; they return to Salt Lake City to carry the same energy. Phoenix has started the season with a 1-2 record — largely due to their horrific defense. They’ve allowed the sixth-most points per game in the league at 126 a game. It’s […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-2242360789.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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The Jazz massively overachieved in their first two outings of the NBA Season; they return to Salt Lake City to carry the same energy. Phoenix has started the season with a 1-2 record — largely due to their horrific defense. They’ve allowed the sixth-most points per game in the league at 126 a game.
It’s been a different story for the home team, the Jazz, who’ve only allowed 107.5 in their small sample size. Taylor Hendricks’ presence was noticed, and the defensive leap from players like Keyonte George has certainly contributed to that. 
That should change, though, due to the Suns’ fast-paced, heavy offense. This season, the Jazz have given up 38.5 3-point attempts per game, which is the 13th-highest in the NBA, while opponents are making 14 attempts per game. So far this season, they’ve seen Malik Monk (6), Zach LaVine (4), and Brook Lopez (5) all catch fire from deep, and there’s no reason to doubt that Brooks will fall into that group.
The million-dollar question tonight: What version will we see of Ace Bailey? The 5th pick lit it up during the preseason, averaging 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals on 58.8% FG, 41.7% 3P shooting splits. But the first two regular-season games of Bailey’s NBA career have been an entirely different story. He only scored 2 points during his debut and recorded a bold zero on the road in Sacramento. However, Ace attributes this to an undisclosed illness in his post-game press conferences. But once he gets it going, he’s going to make the talkers eat their words. It’s only a matter of when.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Injury Report</h2>
Utah: OUT – Isaiah Collier (Right Hamstring Strain) OUT – Georges Niang (Left Foot, Fourth Metatarsal Stress Reaction)
Phoenix: QUESTIONABLE – Dillon Brooks (Right Groin Soreness) OUT – Jalen Green (Right Hamstring Strain)
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to watch</h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to watch</h2>
Who: Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns
When: Monday at 7 p.m. MDT
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UTA
Wearing: Jazz (Purple Icon), Suns (White Association)
Watch: KJZZ, Jazz+
Radio: 1280AM/97.5FM
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>James Hansen</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[What Socrates could teach the Utah Jazz]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/jazz-analysis/64977/what-socrates-could-teach-the-utah-jazz-ace-bailey" />
<id>https://www.slcdunk.com/?p=64977</id>
<updated>2025-10-26T23:39:02-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-10-26T23:39:02-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Jazz Analysis" /><category scheme="https://www.slcdunk.com" term="Utah Jazz Team Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Utah Jazz have been in flux since the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades. Last season, finally, it felt like the Jazz understood how important it is to find talent in the draft to succeed in a rebuild. After a difficult season of losing compounded by a lottery night loss, Ryan Smith made a […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.slcdunk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/145/2025/10/gettyimages-51242029.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,72.827133371183" />
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The Utah Jazz have been in flux since the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades. Last season, finally, it felt like the Jazz understood how important it is to find talent in the draft to succeed in a rebuild. After a difficult season of losing compounded by a lottery night loss, Ryan Smith made a big change and hired Austin Ainge to lead the next phase of the team. Ironically, the tanking still worked because of Omar Cooper’s antics, and the Jazz were still able to draft Ace Bailey.
But it now feels like the Jazz are choosing flux again. On opening night, the Jazz dominated the Los Angeles Clippers and looked like they were an early-season surprise story once again. A close loss to the Kings may have cooled things off already, but it certainly looks like the Jazz are looking to win games this year, like Austin Ainge said they would.
I can’t help but think of my favorite quote, typically attributed to Socrates, “Know thyself.”
It can be extrapolated to a longer form, “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” Socrates is trying to teach us that before we can do or learn anything, we must understand who we are. How can I move forward in life if I don’t know who I am or what my purpose is? 
When I look at this Jazz team, I’m left asking this question, one that I’ve asked those first two seasons after the Gobert and Mitchell trades. Do they know who they are?
I’m sure the front office is pretty clear on who their players are, but is everyone clear on that? Is ownership? Why do I ask this question? Probably the biggest reason is the starting lineup. There’s a reasonable argument for each player starting except for one, Svi Mykhailiuk. Watching these last two games, I’ve had a hard time understanding why Mykhailiuk is starting. The Jazz have said they’re giving Ace Bailey a minute restriction for sickness, even though Bailey himself said it wasn’t the reason.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Ace Bailey told me it wasn’t the flu that kept him out the last six days, and that he wouldn’t have been out there if it was. But did acknowledge he was still feeling a little under the weather tonight, but getting better.— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/BensHoops/status/1981243304949010883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
It’s also clear that the Utah Jazz are not being completely honest with the reasons Ace Bailey isn’t starting or why he’s on a minute restriction. Has a minute restriction ever gone on this long for having the flu? More likely, it may be more related to the tendonitis we’ve heard about. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Ace Bailey is currently dealing with tendonitis in both of his knees, per <a href="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andyblarsen</a> (h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/hoopshype?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hoopshype</a>) <a href="https://t.co/lMNynfcvDF">pic.twitter.com/lMNynfcvDF</a>— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/LegionHoops/status/1978126331788349635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Regardless, why wouldn’t the Jazz be more clear? Why the weird runaround? Are they worried that Bailey has something wrong with his knees? Do they feel like Mykhailiuk gives them a better chance to win? Are they showcasing Mykhailiuk? Is there too much redundancy with Bailey and Markkanen? The answer may be some blend of all those questions, and maybe more. But the question this does leave me with is this one:
Do the Jazz know who they are?
Playing Mykhailiuk over Bailey is the type of thing a team trying to win games would do. A team that just tanked and ended with the worst record in the league would seem like a team that would want to give their touted prospect the best chance to develop. You would think they’d want that to happen with the starters or his future teammates to build chemistry. What we’ve seen in the last two games was not that. They were able to blow out a lazy Clippers team but couldn’t beat the Sacramento Kings, a team that would probably make the same lineup decisions, a team that perpetually doesn’t know who they are.
Now, I have to give the Jazz some credit. This may very well be tendonitis and a minute restriction. It’s a tough situation to be in if you’re the Jazz. But even if that were the case, why all the half-truths? And, like I said before, this all has led to a loss to the Kings and an overrated win against the Clippers. It’s not even making a huge difference, rather than the benefits of building up their young prospect.
This may all work itself out very soon if Bailey gets healthy. He likely gets that starting spot, and this is all a bunch of nothing, but this is all coming across as very strange and emotionally driven.
The biggest thing the Jazz have to do this season is to understand who they are. Stop playing lineups like you’re the Oklahoma City Thunder, and put the players out there that will be playing in the future. Also, start playing a style of basketball geared toward the future of your young players. Instead of running a dribble handoff type offense that runs through the center at the top of the three-point line, can we please run a play for Bailey again? Why was that just a preseason thing? Or is he too redundant with Markkanen on the floor? Which brings us back to the same question as before: Do the Jazz know who they are or what they want their roster to be?
Socrates was a great wrestler in his time and a serious fan of sport. If he were around today, he would be a great basketball blogger. But what he would tell the Jazz if he were advising them would be this: Know thyself!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
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