UTAH JAZZ
Jazz Honor Franchise Legend Adrian Dantley During Mavericks Game
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz honored franchise legend and six-time NBA All-Star Adrian Dantley during a home game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Jazz hosted the Mavericks at Vivint Arena on Saturday, January 28.
In between the first and second quarters of action, the Jazz honored Dantley at center court.
Dantley played professionally from 1976-92. He was a member of the Jazz from 1979-86. During his time in Utah, the Washington D.C. native was a perennial All-Star and standout player.
Dantley’s No. 4 was retired by the Jazz and hangs in the rafters at Vivint Arena. “Feels pretty good. Took a while to get there but finally got there,” Dantley told KSLSports.com’s Ben Anderson about seeing his jersey retired. “It’s a good feeling when you know no one’s not gonna wear that number anymore.”
Excited to have Jazz legend, Adrian Dantley joining the broadcast!
đź“ş Catch it now on @ATTSportsNetRM pic.twitter.com/WzgOokw3JX— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 29, 2023
The former Jazzman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
During his career, Dantley was a two-time NBA scoring champion, two-time All-NBA player, NBA Comeback Player of the Year, NBA Rookie of the Year, and Olympic Gold medalist.
Ahead of Utah hosting the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in February, the Jazz have honored multiple former players that were NBA All-Stars during their playing careers.
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Utah’s game against Dallas is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet, NBA League Pass, and KSL Sports Zone.
Mavericks vs. Jazz
Lauri Markkanen Building All-Star Case
Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen will retake the floor for the first time after he was left off the starting roster for the Western Conference All-Stars.
Markkanen received fewer votes than LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Zion Williamson who has missed 20 games over the first half of the season.
Markkanen was ranked fourth by his fellow NBA player, fifth by members of the media, and seventh in the van voting.
Now, the Jazz forward’s destiny lies in the hands of NBA coaches who are tasked with naming the All-Star reserves.
The All-Star rosters will be finalized on February 2 with reserves chosen by the NBA’s 30 head coaches.
Markkanen is averaging 24.8 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 43 percent from three, and 87 percent from the free-throw line.
Early Saturday the Jazz announced that Kelly Olynyk would return to the lineup after missing eight games with an ankle injury.
LISTEN LIVE: The @utahjazz host the @dallasmavs on https://t.co/4kU961UAvR and the @KSLSportsZone.#TakeNote https://t.co/daNlXWba9u pic.twitter.com/vtCvsnqwX8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 29, 2023
Luka Doncic Injured
Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic was named an All-Star starter on Thursday but left Dallas’s game against the Phoenix Suns with an ankle injury early in the first quarter.
Though x-rays were negative, the Mavericks said they would’t know the availability of Doncic until they get closer to their matchup with the Jazz.
“He looked good, looked fine,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “But we’ll see how he feels as we go forward here. We’ll have probably more information once we get to Utah.”
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Doncic will not play against the Jazz due to an ankle sprain.
The Mavericks will also be without forward Christian Wood (thumb) who had 21 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas’s last meeting with the Jazz.
