- Press <> NBA Boards <> Advertise <> About US <> Write for us <> HOME -

MENU
> HOME
> General NBA info
> Awards
> Records
> States
> Player Facts
> Team Facts
> Other Leagues
> Message Board


1t- Karl Malone: Two time MVP, second leading scorer in NBA history, what’s not to like about Karl Malone? Well other than when he talks about himself he talks in the third person. Regardless if you like him or not, he is passably the greatest player to ever play the power forward spot in NBA history, he and Stockton lead the Jazz to their only two NBA finals’ appearances, and he is probably the most recognized player to ever play for the Jazz.

1t- John Stockton: He and Malone made the Jazz for 18 years from 1985-2003, in that time the lead the team to its only Western Conference finals appearances, its only two NBA finals’ appearances, and made Utah one of the consistently best teams of the 90s. Stockton’s points per game average don’t reach out and grab you, but his assist and steals per game averages do. Stockton is the NBA all-time leader in both categories and one of the 50 greatest NBA players.

3- Adrian Dantley: AD, is quite possible the greatest forgotten star of the 80s, while his defense lacked, his scoring was phenomenal. Dantley was a 56% field goal shooter for the Jazz, and averaged over 30 points a game four seasons, a feat no other Jazzman has yet to accomplish, his 29.6 point per game average is a top the Jazz points per game leader board.

4-Pete Maravich: Pistol Pete Maravich, the Jazz first star. Maravich was traded to the Jazz for the #1 pick in 1974 from the Atlanta Hawks. Maravich was a three-time all-star for the Jazz, and the teams first player to average 30 or more a game. Maravich was also the first Jazz player to have his number retired.

5-Mark Eaton: Big Mark Eaton was among the tallest players to ever play for the Jazz, his 7 foot 4 inches’ body was tough for offensive players to get around. Eaton’s 456 blocks in a season are still the NBA’s best.

6-Darrell Griffith: Dr. Dunkenstein is one of the Jazz greatest scorers in team history averaging over 20 points per game five times. Griffith was also the teams first real three point threat; despite; shooting only 19% from the arch his rookie year.

7-Jeff Malone: Malone gave the Jazz a great second scorer to Karl Malone in the early 90s, he was a former all-star, and many thought him past his prime when he joined the Jazz, yet he still managed to put up an 18 and a half points per game average in his three and a half years with the Jazz.

8-Thurl Bailey: Big T Bailey has been forgotten by many Jazz fans, and those who do remember him only remember the shell of his former self who played for the Jazz in the lockout shortened season of 98-99. But Bailey was a keystone of the Jazz first playoff team, and many other good Jazz teams of the 1980s and early 1990s.

9-Rickey Green: Green is most remembered for being the incumbent point guard when the Jazz drafted John Stockton, few remember that he was the teams first all-star point guard and for a time was the team’s all-time leader in assist, steals and Games played.

10-John Drew: Drew being in the top ten may come as a surprise to many, few even remember he played three seasons for the Jazz, and averaged 21 points per game his first year with the team. Drew was one of the players the Atlanta Hawks sent to the Jazz for the rights to Dominique Wilkens.

11-Andrei Kirilenko: AK47 is one of only a few active players who make the list, his shot blocking and overall defense has made him a fan favorite in the modern era. Kirilenko is also the first non center to lead the Jazz in shot blocking.

12-Lenord Robinson: Truck Robinson is probably the single greatest re-bounder in team history, he is the only Jazz player to lead the league in rebound. Not only could he rebound, but he could score, his 23 points per game average are 5th on the Jazz all-time points per game list.

13-Jeff Hornacek: Jeff Hornacek was acquired in on of the best trades in team history, the Jazz sent out aging veteran shooting guard Jeff Malone, for Philadelphia shooting guard Hornacek. The trade paid great dividends for the Jazz who for the first time in team history finished with a winning record on the road

14-Gail Goodrich: Goodrich is one of the best free agents signing the Jazz have ever had, before joining the Jazz in New Orleans Goodrich was an all-star for the Laker. Unfortunately for the Jazz the signing of Goodrich would cost the team greatly, the Jazz agreed to give the Lakers three first round picks as compensation for signing Goodrich, one of the picks turned out to be Magic Johnson. Despite this, Goodrich had a good career with the Jazz, and would retire from the NBA before the team moved to Salt Lake City.

15-Rich Kelly: Kelly, a two-time Jazz man first came to the Jazz in 1975. Kelly was never a huge offensive threat for the Jazz, his career high in points per game for a season was just 16, he was however a potent re-bounder and shot blocker. His 3,972 rebounds’ ranks 4th on the Jazz all-time list, and his 471 blocks is 7th overall.

16-Aaron James: Aaron James was an off-again-on-again type player, especially offensively. But James none-the-less was a solid contributor to some very bad Jazz teams of the late 1970s.

17-Mehmet Okur: Okur is surely going to rise on this list in future years, but currently he ranks 17th. Okur is a big strong player who often plays outside. Okur is a consistent re-bounder, and a great shooter. He makes the list having played only 82 career games for the Jazz.

18 Byron Russell: Flying Byron Russell was a second round pick for the Jazz in 1993. He was stuck deep on the Jazz bench for most of his first four seasons in the league, but during the 96 playoffs he had an awakening and surged into the Jazz rotation. By the 96-97 season he was the teams starting small forward and looked like he could be a budding star. Russell never panned out as a star, but he was a key role player on the Jazz from then on. He would leave the Jazz in 2002. His career average for the Jazz would be 10 points and four rebounds per game.


Aaron James
19-David Benoit: Most Jazz fans’ memories of David Benoit are not pleasant, most remember him shooting the Jazz out of game five of the 1994 players against the Houston Rockets. But Benoit’s other performances for the Jazz has earned him this ranking. Benoit’s 156 three point buckets made is 6th all time for the Jazz.

20-Raja Bell: Raja Bell came to the Jazz very cheap, but he provided a lot of bang for their buck. Bells’ hustle and defense quickly made him a fan favorite.

21-Tyrone Corbin: the acquisition of Ty Corbin in November of 1992 was a move many Jazz fans hated, because the team gave up long time veteran Thurl Bailey to get Corbin. But Corbin would prove his doubters wrong. Corbin was the 4th option on the Jazz from 92 until 94 when he was traded to Atlanta.

22-Matt Harpring: Matt Harpring has been an off and on player for the Jazz, at times he looked as if he could be a semi-star for the team, at other times he has looked just plain bad. But Harpring’s overall play for the Jazz has been positive, he helped the Jazz reach their 20th consecutive playoff birth in 2003. Harpring was also part of the Jazz team which won 42 games and just missed their 21st straight playoff bid in 2004, but Harprings knees held him to just 31 games. Harprings knee and the emergence of Andrei Kirilenko has relegated Harpring to a 6th man role with the Jazz in recent years.

23-Donyell Marshall: Donyell Marshall was a fantastic re-bounder and second option for the Jazz in his two years with the team. He came to the Jazz, from the Warriors, in the first 4-way trade in NBA history.

24-Louis Nelson: Nelson was the Jazz first true point guard, unfortunately for him, the Jazz offense didn’t need a true point guard. But none-the-less Nelson was able to put up decent figures for the Jazz in his two seasons in New Orleans playing in the same back-court as Pete Maravich.

25-Nate Williams: Williams was a member of the Jazz for the first four years of their existence. He was a solid backup forward for the team, and averaged double figures for three of his four years with the Jazz.

26-Carlos Arroyo: Arroyo was first signed by the Jazz as a third string point guard, but after the retirement of John Stockton, he found himself as the starter. Arroyos first year as a starter made many Jazz fans think they hadn’t lost a step in the point guard transition, but unfortunately his third year would prove them all wrong. Arroyo began the 2004-05 season on the injured list, and then soon found himself in coach Sloan’s doghouse, and then finally being traded to Detroit in early 2005.

27-Bobby Hansen: Hansen played with the Jazz from 1983-1990, and in that time he never proved to be a scoring threat for the Jazz, but his defense allowed him to stay on the floor for the Jazz.

28-Danny Schayes: Schayes two years with the Jazz is an anomaly for most basketball fans, at times the center looked like his father Dolph, who was an NBA legend, and at other times he looked like a bumbling idiot.

29-Henry Bibby: Bibby was a hard-nosed role player for the Jazz from 74-76. While he was never particularly good at anything, he did enough to help the team. He was a 42% shooter who would chip in about 8 points a night for the struggling Jazz. His son Mike also has made the NBA.

30-Ron Boone: Boone was at the end of his career when the Jazz acquired him from the Lakers in 1979. Boone was a former ABA star who had helped Utahs first professional basketball team, the Utah Stars, to win the ABA championship. Boone still managed to give the Jazz 13 points a game in his first season with the team. Boone is currently the color analyst for the Utah Jazz.

31-EC Coleman: E.C. Coleman played for the Jazz from 74-77, and was one of the teams most under rated rebounders. Coleman was the first Jazz player to wear the number 12.

32-Ron Behagen: Behagen is another former New Orleans Jazz player making the list. Behagen averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds in his two seasons with the Jazz.

33-Antoine Carr: The Big Dog joined the Jazz in the summer of 1994, coming over from San Antonio, and he quickly became on of the most popular players in team history. Carr gave the Jazz scoring, rebounding, and defense off the bench. Carr was a key component of the Jazz two finals appearances, and his departure from the team in 1998 coincides with the teams’ decline from a championship contender.

34-Tom Chambers: Chambers, a product of the University of Utah, joined the Jazz as a free agent in 1993. Chambers who was a former all-star enjoyed two decent years with the Jazz from 93-95. He was a good scorer who also provided defense and rebounding to the team.

35-Jerry Eaves: Eaves was a third round draft choice by the Jazz in 1982, and a former teammate of guard Darrell Griffith. Eaves had a solid rookie year for the Jazz averaging just under 10 points a game while contributing 3 rebounds a game. His sophomore year with the Jazz was not as pleasant as he averaged only 4 points and 2 rebounds as his minutes where cut by the addition of Bobby Hansen.

36-Blue Edwards: Blue Edwards joined the Jazz as a first round pick in 1989. Edward enjoyed two stints with the Jazz, the first from 1989 until 1992, when he was traded to Milwaukee for Jay Humphries, And his second stint during the 94-95, which he was acquired from Boston for Humphries. In his time with the Jazz Blue averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game.

37-Alan Bristow: Bristow who is currently the Hornets GM played with the Jazz from 1979-1981. While with the Jazz, Bristow had his best season of his career averaging 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists in 1979-80.

38-Jim McElroy: the Jazz drafted McElroy in the third round of the 1975 draft, and he would play four seasons with the Jazz from 1975 until 1979. McElroy played only sparingly his rookie year averaging 7 points a game in 51 games, but the next year his numbers jumped to 12 a game as he appeared in 73 Jazz games. In 78-79 McElroy put up his best numbers for the Jazz averaging 17 points and 6 assists.

39-Ben Poquette: Poquette came to the Jazz as a free agent in 1979, he would play 4 seasons with the Jazz from 79 until 83. Poquette is another player who had their best years with the Jazz, in his four seasons Poquette averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds per game.

40-Joe C, Meriweather: Big Joe Mariweather had a solid season and a half for the New Orleans Jazz from 1977-1979. In that time he managed to put up 8 points, 6 boards and a block a game for the Jazz.

41-Greg Ostertag: The Jazz drafted Tag in the first round in the 1995 draft, and he became one of the few rookies of the 90s to make an impact on the Jazz in their rookie seasons. Ostertag became a full time starter his second year, and was a key player on the Jazz team which made its first finals appearance. His play during the 97 playoffs was rewarded by one of the largest contracts in Jazz history, unfortunately for the Jazz, Ostertags next six years with the team would be marred by inconsistency and poor play. Ostertag would leave the Jazz in 2004, only to rejoin the team again in 2005. Despite his inconsistencies, Ostertag still ranks in the top ten all time in Blocks, and rebounds for the Jazz.

42-Kelly Tripuka: the Jazz acquired the aging Tripuka from the Pistons in exchange for Adrian Dantley in 1986. While with the Jazz Tripuka, managed to put up decent numbers off the bench, averaging 9 points and 3 rebounds in his two seasons with the Jazz.

43-Jay Humphries: Humphries played for the Jazz from 1992 until 1995, he was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks for Blue Edwards. He was also traded to Boston for Edwards, making the only time in NBA history that the same two players have been traded for each other twice. While with the Jazz Humphries served as a back-up point guard to John Stockton, he averaged 8 points and 4 assists in three seasons with the Jazz.

44-Jeff Wilkens: Wilkens played for the Jazz from 1980 until 1986. In his six seasons in Utah Wilkens averaged a marginal 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist per night, in a back-up role to Mark Eaton.

45-Howard Eisley: Eisley saw his first action as a Jazz player in the preseason of 1995-96, he was cut but was later signed to fill a need after an injury. Eisley would stick with the Jazz until 2000 when he was traded to Dallas in the 4-way trade that brought Donyell Marshall to the Jazz. Eisley returned to the Jazz for the 2004-05 season. In his six years with the Jazz Eisley has averaged 7 points, a rebound and 4 assist per contest.

46-Otto Moore: Otto Moore is the Jazz first true center, he played for the team from 1974-1978. While he was never an offensive threat, he was a fantastic defensive player for the Jazz as he averaged a little under two blocks a game, while pulling down 10 boards, and scoring 10 points a game.

47-Mike Brown: the Brown Bear was a fan favorite for the Jazz from 88 until 93. Brown was a tough competitive forward who seldom missed a game for the Jazz. Brown played both the back power forward and center for the Jazz, and averaged 6 points and 5 boards.

48-Bud Stallworth: Stallworth was one of the original Jazz players, and in his and the teams first year he put up a respectable 10 points and 4 rebounds per game, but his numbers declined each season until he left the team in 1977.

49-Felton Spencer: Spencer being added to the list may surprise many Jazz fans. But Spencer had a nice, but injury plagued, three seasons with the Jazz from 1993-1996. He gave the Jazz 8 points and 8 rebounds per night over his three years.

Written By:
Bran Faurschou