Utah Jazz Debut 1223 Jersey Patch In Honor Of Legendary Coach Jerry Sloan

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz debuted a jersey patch in honor of the late Jerry Sloan during the team’s scrimmage against the Phoenix Suns.

On Thursday, July 23, the Jazz and Suns squared off in the first of Utah’s three scrimmage games that will occur prior to the restart of the 2019-20 NBA season in Orlando, Florida.

A couple of days before the scrimmage, the Jazz announced that they would wear a jersey patch throughout the rest of the season to honor former team head coach Jerry Sloan.

The jersey patch features the number “1223” in honor of the career win total Sloan accrued with the franchise.

The @utahjazz honor the late Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan with their opening possession. pic.twitter.com/TMsIgOh76R

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) July 24, 2020

Sloan passed away at the age of 78 on Friday, May 22. He had been dealing with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia since April 2016.

1223 #WallpaperWednesday 🤍 pic.twitter.com/elAi8iNADK

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) July 22, 2020

“Coach Jerry Sloan will forever be in the hearts of the Utah Jazz organization and fans everywhere, and we feel it is only fitting to honor him in this way,” said Greg Miller, member of the NBA Board of Governors and Director of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies in the press release. “His contributions to our Jazz family and communities are a defining part of our franchise history and we look forward to seeing 1,223 on the jerseys of our players in Orlando as a nod to his legacy.”

“You can’t talk about the Utah Jazz without talking about coach Sloan,” Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said on July 22. “His impact really throughout the state of Utah, the organization, players, fans, coaches. You just can’t overstate it.”

According to the team’s website, “fans can purchase a commemorative jersey patch for $12.23 with proceeds benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Fans can purchase a commemorative jersey patch with proceeds benefitting the @MichaelJFoxOrg, dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Patches can be purchased both in-store and online from @jazzteamstore. pic.twitter.com/otFmGVKmYX

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) July 21, 2020

Patches can be purchased both in-store and at www.jazzteamstore.com and can be affixed on a jersey.

The Jazz have made a financial contribution in Sloan’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and direct donations are also encouraged at www.michaeljfox.org/donate.”

Jerry Sloan’s Legacy

The storied former NBA player first coached in the league as an assistant for the Chicago Bulls. In 1979, the Bulls made Sloan their head coach.

After a few seasons at the helm of the Windy City franchise, Sloan was fired.

In 1985, he joined the Jazz organization under head coach Frank Layden. After Layden resigned in 1988, Sloan was named the 7th head coach in franchise history.

Quin Snyder on @UtahJazz coach Jerry Sloan.

"I had the opportunity to know him, there's just there's nothing you can say other than He was a great coach and a great man. "@kslsports

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) July 23, 2020

Over the next 20-plus seasons, Sloan led the Jazz to the postseason nearly every season. He coached Utah to its only NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998.

Sloan’s coaching career spanned from 1978-2011.

NBA Restart In Orlando

Starting on July 30, 22 NBA teams, including the Jazz, will finish the 2019-20 regular season with an eight-game schedule. After that, 16 teams (eight from each conference) will start the NBA Playoffs.

Games will be played at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and no fans will be in attendance.

The Jazz will restart the season against the New Orleans Pelicans on July 30 at 4:30 p.m (MDT). The game will be televised on TNT and AT&T SportsNet.

Utah’s scrimmage against Phoenix is broadcast on AT&T SportsNet and NBA League Pass.