Jazz Depth To Be Tested In Training Camp, Preseason

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz have begun training camp and their first preseason game is on Saturday. With three key players on the roster playing for their country in the FIBA World Cup, fatigue could set in early in camp.

Joe Ingles, who played for Australia, was asked if fatigue will be a factor in training camp and could it linger into preseason and even the regular season.

“I only landed 36 hours ago, so I am fatigued either way right now,” Ingles said at Utah Jazz Media Day. “But, I haven’t sat down with the medical staff yet to work that out or even if there is going to be (a meeting). With the depth of our team even during the regular season use it at times if guys need a break at some point.”

Ingles has been playing for the “Boomers” for a long time, so that is beneficial when it comes to transitioning to the season.

“For me with the national team, I have done it every year since I was 17 years old,” Ingles stated. “It’s not really too different for me. Obviously, there is going to be times that things might need to be looked at, but there is zero concern on my end.”

The one thing that is unique about this situation is the FIBA World Cup of Basketball was in China and Mitchell (USA), Rudy Gobert (France) and Ingles were playing in the tournament that lasted until early to mid September, just a couple of weeks before training camp.

“We just learned how to win. You have a short amount of time with a group of guys, you try to get ready as a team … I was really happy that Donovan got to do that this year and I think it’ll help him in the long run as it did for me.”

-Rudy on playing FIBA

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) September 30, 2019

Gobert knows of the sacrifices that are made when playing for the national team especially when the timing is close to the start of the NBA season.

“It’s a totally different setting for me playing for the French National Team,” Gobert said. “We sacrifice a lot because you have two months where you are practicing everyday, while other guys could be playing pickup games or on the beach with their families. You sacrifice to try to accomplish something and it’s a different kind of focus.”

The Jazz brought in more veteran leadership in the off-season by signing Bojan Bogdanovic, Ed Davis and Emmanuel Mudiay, while acquiring Mike Conley in a trade. Those moves are going to be critical to Utah’s success as it will create depth on the roster and players will be able to rest more during the regular season, knowing these players are around and have been known to step up.

The reason why the Jazz will be tested in training camp and preseason is because that is the time for the new players to develop chemistry with the guys returning to the team from last season.

The Utah Jazz will play their first preseason game on Saturday night when they host the Adelaide 36ers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The game will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.