Watching Guide: Former Jazz Players Still In Postseason

The Utah Jazz had their season end April 13^th coinciding with the regular season finale, meaning Jazz fans have officially been over a month without any personalized basketball.

Sure the NBA playoffs have been a rip roaring good time, but some fans need to fill that personal connection to get overly into the action.

And what better way to do that than by living vicariously through former players.

Sure, Utah doesn’t have a championship but if a former player you enjoyed rooting for snags one, that counts for something right?

Right?

Well we all grieve in our own way.

If you need to find that extra bit of motivation or fill that championship sized hole in your heart here’s a rooting guide to what former Jazz players find themselves in contention for a title.

First to set the scene:

Only days away from conference title action, the Thunder, up 3-2 on the series, can put away Denver if they can find a way to win in the Mile High tomorrow.

Minnesota can dispose of a Steph Curry-less Golden State tonight in Game 5 action on their home floor, a series that the Wolves lead 3-1.

Indiana became the first team to punch their ticket to a conference finals blasting the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in 5 games.

The New York Knicks look to deliver the final blow tonight in Boston as they pace the defending champion Celtics, 3-1.

So what former Jazzmen can one find?

The Pacers roster former Jazz backup Center, Tony Bradley.

You may not want to be reminded of those times but Bradley appeared in 58 games for 11.4 minutes during his 3^rd and final season in Utah in the 2019-20 season.

He was traded to Utah on the draft night of 2017 after being selected by the Lakers with the 28^th overall pick.

The Knicks have PJ Tucker, the grizzled veteran who was traded to Utah earlier this season from the Clippers.

Tucker was promptly traded to Toronto before ever suiting up for Utah and was waived afterwards.

Players like that don’t necessarily fit into this category, but are worth the mention.

Denver Nuggets guard, Russell Westbrook fits the bill, having been sent to Salt Lake City twice in his career and being bought out both times before ever donning the J-note.

Kevin Knox II in Golden State is also a “former” Jazz man despite being acquired from Detroit on February 8^th 2024 and being waived the very next day.

Former Utah collegiate athletes decorate the postseason scene as well such as Utah State’

s Neemias Queta or Utah’s Branden Carlson and Delon Wright.

Clearly there are ample players with Utah ties one can point out on the TV screen as the playoffs move onward, the biggest issue being, any time you see them they are all likely to be in warmups high fiving the starters during a time out.

Russell Westbrook is the one exception and he doesn’t even count.

If you want impact guys look no further than the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Of course fans will instantly point out 4X Defensive Player of The Year winner, Rudy Gobert, or former Jazz All-Star Mike Conley as the familiar faces and rightfully so.

Both were a crucial part of a Jazz team who had the best record in the NBA back in 2020 going 52-20 that season.

We won’t talk about how that season ended.

Conley appeared in 213 games for Utah and Gobert clearly became a fan favorite as a homegrown product with 611 games as a Jazzman.

The Wolves also feature Nickeil- Alexander-Walker and Joe Ingles for added fun.

Alexander-Walker showed up in 51 games for Utah and Joe Ingles needs no introduction being Utah’s franchise leader in three pointers made.

So if you truly want to not only see former Jazz or Utah based players, but want to see them compete as well, the Timberwolves are your best bet to feel a bit nostalgic and find some type of second hand success.

Minnesota will look to end the Golden State Warriors season tonight at 7:30 mountain time on TNT.

If able to advance Minnesota will be appear in consecutive Western Conference Finals and their third since 2004.