Miss America Attends Utah Jazz Game
Feb 1, 2025, 3:56 PM | Updated: Feb 2, 2025, 2:27 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Abbie Stockard, better known these days as Miss America, is at Delta Center to watch boyfriend Walker Kessler and the Jazz take on Orlando.
The Jazz (10-36) are hosting the Orlando Magic (24-25) on Saturday, February 1. Brice Sensabaugh’s 27 points carried the Jazz past Orlando 105-92 on January 5.
The Magic are eighth in the East. Utah is dead last in the West with the second-worst record in the league.
RELATED: Utah Jazz Vs. Orlando Magic Live Blog
Abbie Stockard, aka Miss America, aka Walker Kessler’s girlfriend is at today’s @utahjazz game.#TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/lUt94KhvDJ
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 1, 2025
In early January, Kessler’s reaction to Stockard winning Miss America went viral as the third-year center celebrated with HC Will Hardy.
RELATED: Abbie Stockard, Girlfriend Of Walker Kessler Named Miss America
The Jazz have looked good in the early going against Orlando. Utah led 31-21 after one quarter. John Collins leads the way with nine points and three boards. Isaiah Collier continues his growth, adding eight points, three assists, and a steal. Brice Sensabaugh came off the bench to score seven.
Utah leads 39-31 with 8:02 left in the half.
Jazz deal Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills to Clippers
Danny Ainge, Justin Zanik, and the Utah Jazz started their trade deadline moves early on Saturday. Five days before the 1 p.m. MT deadline on February 6, the Jazz agreed to send center Drew Eubanks and point guard Patty Mills to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for P.J. Tucker, Mo Bamba, and a future second-round pick.
Brought in as a veteran voice, Mills has played 17 games, averaging 4.4 points and 1.2 assists while playing sparingly. A seven-year pro, Eubanks has offered valuable minutes for an injury-plagued frontline. The Former Oregon State Beaver averaged 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds. More importantly, Eubanks provided near-replacement-level production and a steadying force in the middle.
“Both of those guys are representative of everything that we want to stand for,” Hardy said after the trade.
“I think both of those guys have an intense work ethic,” Hardy added. “They have the ability to be a part of a group, give themselves to a group. They have enough humility to know that it’s not about them every day.”
Both Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks earned the praise of @utahjazz head coach Will Hardy after Saturday's trade with the @laclippers.
“Both of those guys are representative of everything that we want to stand for.”#TakeNotehttps://t.co/SdUoe99taX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 1, 2025
Mills’ contract is an expiring $2-million deal. Eubanks is under contract this year and next, though his $4.75 million is non-guaranteed for the 2025-26 season.
Utah will be the fifth team in Mo Bamba’s career. The 7’0, 26-year-old center was the No. 6 overall pick in 2018 but has not lived up to the hype. Bamba averages 4.6 points and 4.3 boards while shooting 30 percent from three and 46.6 percent overall.
P.J. Tucker is a well-traveled NBA veteran in his 14th season. He has career averages of 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 883 games. Tucker has not played a game in 2024-25.
Both candidates to be bought out, Hardy mentioned he was unsure of the future of Tucker and Bamba in Utah.
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Tonight’s game against the Timberwolves is being televised on KJZZ, streamed on SEG+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24.
