Minus Veterans, Isaiah Collier Looks To Step Up For Jazz
Jul 3, 2025, 1:18 PM
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (13) (Credit: Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
(Credit: Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz have cleared a path for Isaiah Collier in their backcourt for the 2025-26 season.
After trading Collin Sexton to the Charlotte Hornets and buying out the contract of Jordan Clarkson, the second-year guard will be called upon to shoulder a bigger role with the team.
Despite his relative inexperience, Collier told KSL Sports he’s up for the challenge.
Related: Jordan Clarkson’s Top Moments With The Utah Jazz
Isaiah Collier Ready For Bigger Role With Jazz
Collier, the 29th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, exceeded expectations in his rookie season with the Jazz.
The former top-rated high school recruit averaged 8.7 points and 6.3 assists per game, and narrowly missed out on the All-Rookie team.
Related: Isaiah Collier Breaks John Stockton’s Rookie Assist Record
Now, the Jazz will need him to take his game ot the next level if he hopes to man the starting point guard position full-time.
This season Zay dropped 615 points and dished out 446 assists becoming the first Jazz rookie to ever accumulate those totals, and he’s just getting started 😏🏔️
Check out every moment from his record-breaking rookie season here 📺 https://t.co/ztBJYd8PiT#TakeNote |… pic.twitter.com/tzQBb9GuxB
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 23, 2025
“We’re going to miss Collin, JC, Johnny [Juzang] as well,” Collier acknowledged. “It’s going to be a huge step for all of us — the team as a whole, to be honest.”
Collier played 1,839 as a rookie last season, second only to second-year guard Keyonte George, who broke the 2,000-minute mark.
The pair will be tasked with manning the point guard position early in the season for the Jazz, despite their relative inexperience.
“I don’t expect everything to just happen overnight,” Collier added, “but we’re all learning as well, and trying to lead at the same time. That’s why we’ve just been working so hard this summer, because it’s a huge season for us coming up.”
How Is Collier Changing His Game
In addition to what he learned on the court as a rookie, Collier is hoping to make changes to his game based on what he saw in the Finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Indiana Pacers in seven games, with both rosters relying heavily on defensive-minded specialists in the backcourt.
“As far as guarding the basketball, for me, I think I could be a way better defender than what I showed in the previous season,” Collier said.
ROOKIE WITH THE COOKIES 🍪
Isaiah Collier finishes the fastbreak with the dunk 💥 pic.twitter.com/6OvqiglHBl
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 6, 2025
After a quick visit to his native Georgia to begin the summer, the 20-year-old returned to Utah to work on improving his defense with Jazz coaches.
While the guard has focused on improving his defense, he’s also working on fine-tuning his jump shot.
Collier shot just 25 percent from the three-point line in 71 appearances with the Jazz, and will need to see that number improve if he hopes to retain his starting spot in the NBA.
“Staying with it is the biggest thing for me,” the guard said of his shooting touch. “Staying consistent with it. ”
How Well Does Collier Know Ace Bailey?
In 2023, Collier was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Georgia.
Ace Bailey, the Jazz’s fifth pick in this year’s draft, won the award in 2024. Though the two faced off in high school, this is their first time playing as teammates.
“We played in the playoffs my senior year, we won that game,” Collier said through a smile.
Collier’s Wheeler team won three-state championships in Georgia, while Bailey led his McEachern squad to the championship game during his senior season.
“Seeing where he’s at now, he’s come a long way. I mean, the potential, the sky is the limit for sure, and he’s only 18, that’s the crazy thing about it. As he grows in this league, learns the NBA game, I think he could do really well.”
Collier and Bailey will share the floor for the first time officially on Saturday during the Salt Lake City Summer League when they host No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
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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.
