SALT LAKE CITY – A number of elected officials root for the local pro sports team to show support because it is an easy and popular thing to do. In reality, not all politicians are die-hard sports fans, but Utah’s governor Spencer Cox is a huge fan of the Utah Jazz.

RELATED: Check out all of KSL Sports All-Star weekend coverage

Cox is a big-time Jazz and overall sports fan. During the Super Bowl, the governor had to watch the game on one of those tiny airplane screens, he shared a photo on Twitter.

Smaller screen, but everyone understands the assignment. pic.twitter.com/SRTR3WWZax

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) February 12, 2023

His Jazz fandom is real and if you follow Cox on Twitter then you will see sports mixed in with politics. He is a big fan of head coach Will Hardy. He really liked the move when the Jazz hired Hardy away from the Celtics this past Summer.

Great pick by the Jazz! https://t.co/ozgkDFms9l

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) June 28, 2022

He joined Unrivaled to discuss the NBA All-Star game in Salt Lake City and the Utah Jazz. Cox made a bold statement by crowning Hardy as the top coach in the NBA and attributes that to him being a relaxed guy. Plus, he is getting so much out of what was perceived to be one of the worst teams heading into the NBA season.

“I think he is the best coach in the NBA. Seriously, I don’t want else to attribute it to” Cox said. “Guys play hard for them when they don’t have to. It feels like we are trying to tank a little bit, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter who you throw out there he figures out how to get the best out of his players.”

A true fan throws out the “we” as the governor did when talking about this Jazz team. Statistically, Hardy is not the best coach in the NBA. However, the Jazz are vastly overachieving this year.

Utah governor @SpencerJCox joined @KSLunrivaled and gave out very high praise for @utahjazz head coach Will Hardy.#Team49 | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/TiyPFqRxcb

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 17, 2023

Lauri Markkanen Is A Surprise All-Star Starter

Not only are the Utah Jazz farther along than anyone thought but they have a surprise All-Star starter in Lauri Markkanen. That achievement has a lot to do with Hardy’s coaching.

“It is crazy,’ Cox said “A lot of us were watching Europe basketball last year and seeing what he was doing in Finland … He was dominating those games in ways no one has ever seen. It felt like something just clicked or unlocked in him. I’m not gonna lie and say I knew he was going to come back and be an All-Star starter.”

The governor is exactly right that no one thought at the time that Markkanen would be in the All-Star game, let alone be a starter. Markkanen was traded this offseason when the Chicago Bulls decided to move on. So, there was no reason to think he’d come in and make much of an impact with the Jazz.

Looks like everyone is enjoying the surprisingly fun Utah Jazz season this year, including the governor.

Follow @JeremyMauss