Best Off-Court Moments From 2018-19 Jazz Season: No. 1-10
May 5, 2019, 3:27 PM | Updated: May 9, 2019, 5:30 pm
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) comes out of the game as the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers play at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt lake City on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Utah won 115-100. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Through 82 games of the regular season, plus the preseason and playoffs, there were plenty of great moments on the court, but off the court, there were many special moments for the Utah Jazz.
KSL Sports has compiled a Top 20 list of the best off-court moments from the 2018-19 season.
This is part two of a four part series of looking back at the best moments from the Jazz season.
The Jazz Notes podcast discussed some of the moments.
After unveiling the 11-20 best moments, here are the Top 10 from this past season.
10. Donovan Mitchell Holds Sportsbeat Mic
Following the Jazz win over the Charlotte Hornets on April 1, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell decided to be a part of the media as he held the KSL Sportsbeat microphone in the media scrum as the press was talking to Joe Ingles.
.@spidadmitchell auditioning for a Sports Anchor position at @kslsports. You're hired! #TeamIsEverything #UtahJazz #NBA https://t.co/mswkFuB8kZ pic.twitter.com/b24yYzqyJp
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) April 2, 2019
9. Gobert’s Record Breaking Jersey In Hall Of Fame
On March, 25, Rudy Gobert broke the NBA single season record for most dunks. After that milestone was broken, the NBA Hall of Fame asked to display Gobert’s jersey in the Hall of Fame.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 https://t.co/dzcDVwiUxc
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) April 8, 2019
8. Mitchell Invites Tiny Fan, Other Shoe Giveaways
Donovan Mitchell has made it a point to give out his shoes from warmups to fans. Before the last home game of the regular season, Mitchell saw a tweet from a Jazz fan about his young daughter upset that she couldn’t stay up to watch the Jazz. Mitchell invited her to the game and gave her his warmup shoes.
Among the many other occasions of handing his shoes out, he gave a pair to his sister Jordan in Memphis. That pair was very meaningful as they represented the celebration of Internation Women’s Day.
I’ll make sure you guys have tickets to our last home game if it’s not past her bed time 🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️😂😂 https://t.co/DrKjn30RCe
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) April 6, 2019
For #InternationalWomensDay, @spidadmitchell wore a special colorway of the Adidas Pro Vision inspired by his sister Jordan during warmups and then gifted them to her 💜
📸: Joe Murphy pic.twitter.com/Vm7tCToLlz— SoleCollector.com (@SoleCollector) March 9, 2019
- Mitchell Invites Tiny Fan To Jazz’s Final Home Game
- Mitchell Gives Away Special International Women’s Day Sneakers To Sister
7. Meow, Come On In Royce, Many Rudy’s
The arena sponsor of the Utah Jazz, Vivint Smart Home released three commercials that featured members of the Jazz.
It began with the bus commercial as Donovan Mitchell was watching his cat on his phone and admitted to being a cat guy. After Rudy Gobert told Mitchell it was okay, a long pause occurred before Ricky Rubio said “Meow.”
The second one was Ricky Rubio singing in his basement recording a music video when Royce O’Neale rang his doorbell. Rubio used his phone to look to see who was at the door. He told O’Neale to come into the house and when O’Neale entered basement, Rubio was lifting weights.
Finally, Jae Crowder and Rudy Gobert star in the third commercial. They are in Gobert’s home and his security system is many pictures and statues of Gobert. Crowder finds it weird.
For real though…not a cat guy 😂 @vivinthome #VivintSmartHome @rudygobert27 @rickyrubio9 pic.twitter.com/5lxDS9NHnm
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 23, 2019
… just a heads up, new music video dropping soon 🎙🎛 @BucketsONeale00 @VivintHome #VivintSmartHome #Meow 😂 pic.twitter.com/OaAnN3Gz1d
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 28, 2019
"There's no better defense than many Rudies…" @rudygobert27 @CJC9BOSS @utahjazz @NBA #art pic.twitter.com/uXCwHDn9a4
— Vivint Smart Home™ (@VivintHome) January 22, 2019
6. Mitchell Meets Major Brent Taylor’s Family
After an emotional win over the Boston Celtics, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell took some time after the game to sign jersey and spend time with the family of Major Brent Taylor, who was killed serving in Afghanistan.
Donovan Mitchell is signing jerseys and spending time with the family of Major Brent Taylor who was killed serving in Afghanistan. #TeamIsEverything #UtahJazz https://t.co/cHCjl6WEXL
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) November 10, 2018
5. Korver Praises Mitchell After Game 3 Loss
The Utah Jazz just lost to the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs to take a 3-0 lead in the series. It was a close game that saw Donovan Mitchell miss the potential game-tying three pointer late in the game. After the game, Jazz veteran Kyle Korver finished answering questions from the media. As the media was walking away from his locker, Korver asked the media to return because he had something to say. He had high praise for Mitchell.
T-3. Gail Miller Addresses Crowd
In March, the Utah Jazz dealt with a fan making offensive comments to Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook. To the point, where both parties exchanged words during the game.
The Jazz permanently banned the fan from every event at Vivint Smart Home. The next home game, Jazz owner Gail Miller addressed the crowd before the game.
Her comments were motivational and an inspiration.
Gail Miller addressed tonight's crowd ahead of tip-off ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nJcmPD2kD4
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 15, 2019
T-3. Kyle Korver’s Players Tribune Article
Longtime NBA veteran Kyle Korver wrote a fantastic article in the Player’s Tribune in April after the Russell Westbrook incident. He talked about that and the 2015 incident with fellow teammate Thabo Sefolosha when they were both playing for the Atlanta Hawks.
Korver hosted a roundtable like conversation about racism with Ekpe Udoh, Georges Niang and Sefolosha.
I've been trying to write this for a while. https://t.co/Qkt8aoVtdE
— Kyle Korver (@KyleKorver) April 8, 2019
.@utahjazz teammates @ThaboSefolosha, @EkpeUdoh, @GeorgesNiang20 and @KyleKorver open up in a powerful roundtable on racism and the @NBA. pic.twitter.com/8LGVohNvcJ
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) April 8, 2019
2. Rubio Works To Fight Cancer
Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio lost his mother to cancer in May of 2016 after a 4-year battle with lung cancer. Rubio used his platform as an NBA player to create awareness. He donated money and time to the Huntsman Cancer institute and is an ambassador for 5 for the Fight campaign.
KSL Sports’ Jeremiah Jensen caught up with Rubio as he was visiting patients at the Cancer Institute.
1. Joe Ingles Announces Son’s Autism Diagnosis
Jazz swingman Joe Ingles announced on his social media accounts that his son Jacob was diagnosed with autism.
Joe and his wife Renae posted an article HERE.
Since the diagnosis, Ingles has made an emphasis to use his platform to create awareness for autism. The Utah Jazz supported Ingles by having an autism awareness night in April against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Renae and I share with the world Jacob’s diagnosis with autism and where to from here for our family.
Head to @exclusiveinsight to read our story, or head to the link below!https://t.co/2WOZXM3vQm pic.twitter.com/UlKKtYyj1o
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) February 13, 2019
