Our series on the four jerseys fans of every NBA team continues today. It’s Northwest Division week, and today we’re focusing on the Utah Jazz. Remember, we’re not just going to list off four popular players in team history. We know that when you’re wearing a jersey, you’re going for a “look.” So every day we’re going to tell you the jersey you’ve got to have, the jersey you can’t go wrong with (in case you can’t find the first one), the jersey that will make people say “Oh, that’s awesome,” and the joke jersey that will have everyone laughing.
Utah got its name from its New Orleans roots. The team never shed its “Jazz” nickname as it moved from the bayou to the base of the Rockies, but it did build up a new reputation as a winner. Since first making the playoffs in 1983-84, the Jazz have only missed the playoffs four times. Of course, they have famously won no titles, thanks to a man named Michael Jordan.
Recent upheaval has changed how we might have approached these four jerseys. With a lot of uncertainty about the future of the roster, we reached back to make sure Jazz fans had four jerseys they could proudly wear for years to come.
Gotta Have:
John Stockton — How much do I really have to get into this one? Stockton was quiet, but he was still a bad-ass. He’s the NBA’s all-time assist and steals leader, and he’s top 50 in points scored (42nd, to be exact). He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game, it’s as simple as that. And because he never wore anything besides a Jazz jersey, he’s the guy you’ve gotta have. Like Clyde Drexler yesterday, I don’t think anyone would question any NBA fan for wearing a #12 Jazz jersey.
Can’t Go Wrong With:
Karl Malone — You saw that coming, right? You can’t mention one without the other. They decimated the league for decades with their pick and roll game. Considered among the best power forwards of all time, The Mailman also set himself apart from the rest of the league with his physique. I know we’re used to seeing weight-trained specimens today, but in Malone’s day, it was a bit of an anomoly. Plus, he was also a professional wrestler, which is pretty cool. So do some pushups, say your prayers, take your vitamins and put on a #32… BROTHER!!!!
“Oh, That’s Cool”:
Pete Maravich — You can’t picture Pistol Pete in anything but a Jazz jersey. Yeah, he did start out wearing those god-awful neon Hawks jerseys, but Pistol is, and will forever be known as a member of the Jazz. The legend was born in New Orleans at LSU, and his return to the New Orleans Jazz was one of the most celebrated moments for any single NBA team. You can wear his #44 “Pistol” jersey, or a regular #7 Maravich. How you want to look cool is up to you.
“Oh, That’s Funny”:
Greg Ostertag — Ostertag was serviceable big man. He spent 10 years in the league, nine of them in Utah. He was OK. What makes this funny is that the reaction you get when you wear his #00 (or his #39, if you want to pay homage to his 2000-2001 season specifically). Because with all the great choices in Jazz history… with all the great players and fan favorites… you have chosen to rock the jersey of a big, slow, goofy center with an odd name: “Ostertag”. It’s a celebration of mediocrity!
There you have it. The four jerseys Jazz fans have got to have. Disagree with us? Let us know who we missed in the comments.
Atlantic Division: Boston, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
Central Division: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee
Southeast Division: Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Washington
Pacific Division: Golden State, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, Phoenix, Sacramento
Northwest Division: Denver, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Portland
Next Week: The Southwest Division
Jeff Garcia collaborated on this post
