Holmgren Dominates Jazz In Summer League Debut
Jul 5, 2022, 9:44 PM | Updated: 9:47 pm
Chet Holmgren after making his NBA debut against the Utah Jazz at the Salt Lake Summer League (Photo: KSL Sports/Ben Anderson)
(Photo: KSL Sports/Ben Anderson)
SALT LAKE CITY – The 2022 Utah Jazz summer league roster might have gotten the first glimpse of greatness when they faced Chet Holmgren in his NBA debut.
The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie dazzled in his first summer league appearance scoring 23 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking six shots, and dishing out four assists in just under 24 minutes.
Holmgren jumped on the Jazz early with his hot shooting from downtown as the Thunder coasted to an easy 98-77 win.
After the game Holmgren said despite his terrific start, there was still work to do.
“It’s pretty impossible to have a perfect game, and that’s what you’re striving for,” Holmgren said. “It’s just back to the gym, got to be better tomorrow.”
Chet Holmgren on how he thought he played in his NBA debut.@okcthunder | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/vZF2MCtnkK
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) July 6, 2022
The Jazz struggled in their first game at Vivint Arena shooting just 34 percent from the floor and 55 percent from the free-throw line.
Second-year guard Jared Butler struggled in his summer league debut scoring 10 points and handing out four assists on an inefficient 3-10 shooting performance.
Butler missed last year’s summer leagues in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas as the Jazz brought the guard along slowly after selecting him with the 40th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Despite his poor shooting night, Butler’s on-ball defense and playmaking looked to have grown from his rookie year.
Two-way guard Johnny Juzang missed the Jazz first summer league game as the former UCLA Bruin has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Juzang was in a car accident in Salt Lake City over the weekend and didn’t practice with the team on Sunday.
UTAH!!!!!!! Lets get the static up!!! https://t.co/CcU7S82Ehk
— Jordan Usher (@Callmeush) July 6, 2022
Undrafted free-agent Jordan Usher was one of the few bright spots for the Jazz recording seven points and three rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench. The former Georgia Tech wing is a strong on-ball defender and his +5 plus/minus was the Jazz only positive result.
Xavier Sneed who finished the 2021-22 season on a two-way contract with the Jazz scored a team-high 15 points, though he converted just 2-7 shots from the floor. Sneed did the majority of his damage at the free-throw line where he knocked won 9-12 attempts.
The Jazz return to action on Wednesday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 pm MT.
