Utah Jazz games will soon be streamed online via their new streaming platform. Additional subscription options, pricing models, and more details will be available next season.
John Stockton and Karl Malone are undeniably two of the greatest Jazz players ever, while Pistol Pete remains one of the greatest scorers ever seen playing the game.
1. John Stockton and Karl Malone
Stockton and Malone made for an unrivaled combination of talent. Each complimented the other’s game to create one of the most lethal offensive teams ever seen in NBA history – featuring unstoppable pick-and-rolls with both scoring at an astonishingly efficient rate.
It’s telling that during the Stockton-to-Malone era, Utah’s greatest successes occurred when its two-man assist duo was not as heavily relied upon to produce assists. While this may be a coincidence, it nonetheless highlights that successful team basketball involves much more than simply adding numbers on a stat sheet.
One prime example was in 1998, when the Utah Jazz started the season without their floor general, Karl Malone. Malone struggled to produce at a practical level for 18 games of that year without his mentor present on the court, yet they managed to win 11 and lose just seven in those 18 contests despite this setback. When Mailman returned, his play improved dramatically, and they ended up going on an incredible 51-13 win streak!
Malone was an intimidating power forward who excelled at scoring inside the paint, drawing fouls when opponents fouled him, and rebounding well. His style differed significantly from that of Stockton in that he relied heavily on post moves to create opportunities; nonetheless, his strength and size allowed him to dominate at an NBA level, often overwhelming smaller defenders. Malone was also adept at drawing fouls and taking advantage of free-throw attempts when opponents fouled him; on top of his scoring abilities, he excelled at drawing fouls and taking advantage of free-throw shots when opponents fouled him!
2. Rudy Gobert
Gobert is one of the most excellent rim protectors in the league and one of the primary forces driving the Utah Jazz defense. Boasting an immense 9-foot, 9-inch reach, he’s used it against opposing centers to significant effect over time while blocking shots at the rim and holding his own offensively, earning numerous double-doubles and being named to All-Defensive First Team last season.
His relationship with fellow center Joe Ingles is unmatched in the league, boasting excellent timing and reading each other’s movements for a formidable duo that opposing teams struggle to match up against. Gobert boasts numerous accomplishments on his resume, including winning bronze at the 2015 EuroBasket and gold at the 2014 World Championships and leading the Utah Jazz into three different playoff berths since joining.
His community widely respects him due to his generous charitable giving. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated significant sums to support employees at Vivint Smart Home Arena and other businesses affected by the shutdowns.
The Utah Jazz have recently changed their media arm to SEG Media (standing for Smith Entertainment Group, owned by team owner Ryan Smith), which will offer subscriptions for direct-to-consumer streaming of Jazz games online instead of cable-based regional sports networks that were once primary means for Utahns to watch them. This move will enable the team to reach wider audiences while increasing revenue through streaming subscriptions.
3. Mikhail “Kirilenko” Kuznetsov
Utah Jazz have hosted three Sunday home games this season at the Delta Center: November 19 against Phoenix, February 4 versus Milwaukee, and February 25 against San Antonio. Their record for Sunday home games stands at 32-27 all-time.
Kuznetsov has been an integral member of the Jazz since their formation, entering his seventh NBA season this fall. The defenseman stands out as one of the league’s premier shot defenders, leading them in blocked shots and steals. Additionally, he excels at rebounding, with over ten boards per game being his average.
Kirilenko was born in 1906 and rose quickly through Soviet bureaucracy as an employee at a railroad company. Over time, he became close to Leonid Brezhnev, eventually earning him a seat on his Secretariat in 1965. Serving under Brezhnev until 1982 as one of his lieutenants, he helped oversee personnel selection and economic planning in the Soviet Union before eventually leaving office in 1982.
The Utah Jazz announced on Tuesday that, beginning with the 2023-24 season, KJZZ-TV will serve as their official “Home.” SEG Media (an acronym for Salt Lake City Entertainment Group named for owner Ryan Smith) will offer fans access to Jazz games via a subscription-based streaming platform. KJZZ will continue to feature local sports content. The move marks an end to 15 years in which the team struggled with declining viewership of regional sports networks as more cable and satellite subscribers abandoned them for cheaper streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
4. Donovan Mitchell
Donovan Mitchell may only have been in the NBA for a while, but his legacy will forever be embedded into Utah Jazz history. Considered one of the league’s top young talents and an early favorite for All-Star selection. A finalist at the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest and wearing some of its most excellent dunker jerseys, Mitchell paid in tribute.
His latest performance was an absolute stunner, scoring 57 career-high points in Utah Jazz’s inaugural playoff game at Vivint Arena. This marks only the third-highest single-game scoring performance in franchise history – behind Karl Malone (61) and Elgin Baylor (71). This was also one of the most efficient 70-point performances ever witnessed, requiring fewer field goals while producing a higher True Shooting percentage than any similar contest.
Mitchell’s historic scoring spree came despite losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers, yet he still proved that he would remain one of the league’s premier scorers for years. Despite difficulties shooting from deep, he hit seven of 18 attempts and scored 46 points during a tight first-round matchup against his former team.
Fans in Utah can watch Utah Jazz games for free by connecting a primary TV antenna and tuning into KJZZ channel 14. Sinclair Broadcasting was granted access to their local broadcast rights to reach new audiences, including younger fans, without access to other streaming services such as Hulu or Netflix. Furthermore, SEG Media will provide content directly-to-consumer streaming service with a $15-30 monthly subscription fee for viewing content that won’t appear elsewhere online.
5. Jeff Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek was an underrated basketball player during his 14-year NBA career with the Utah Jazz and was most known for playing shooting guard. A talented outside shooter, Hornacek made numerous three-pointers while being a brilliant defensive player who could read passing lanes and get into other players’ heads quickly – qualities which made him stand out during competitions such as NBA All-Star Weekend in Houston in 1999 and 1998.
Hornacek made his first impression with the Jazz by taking two technical foul shots during their game against Orlando, although both shots missed. But he wasn’t embarrassed – just getting used to NBA game speed and understanding his new role as a backup point guard.
The Utah Jazz have announced they are introducing a direct-to-consumer streaming service that will allow fans to watch games locally online for $15 to $30 a month, along with additional team content. SEG Media hopes their initiative is successful after previous disappointment at AT&T SportsNet regarding lack of team-related material.
Hornacek was an incredible asset to the Jazz, providing much-needed mental toughness. His presence truly enhanced their roster and helped John and Karl Malone realize their full potential.
Hornacek has also mentored younger players such as Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, and Derrick Favors. Furthermore, he’s assisted in the careers of Thabo Seymour and Joe Ingles – actual class acts! We wish him all of the best wishes in his future endeavors.
