Jazz Klauke Named NBA Equipment Manager Of The Year
Jun 18, 2021, 4:20 PM
Utah Jazz home floor at Vivint Smart Home Arena (Photo: Ben Anderson/KSL Sports)
(Photo: Ben Anderson/KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz earned another surprise end-of-season, this time it came for work done off the floor. Adam Klauke was named the 2020-21 David “DH” Nordstrom Equipment Manager of the Year.
Though he mostly operates behind the scenes, Klauke has been with the Jazz since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone, beginning his career with the organization in 1999 as a team attendant.
“I’m so happy for my man, Klauke,” Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said in a release from the team. “He does everything for us. He’s up late at night and here early in the morning. He’s truly the first one here and last one to leave and always makes sure our stuff is ready to go.”
Congratulations to Adam Klauke on being named the 2020-21 NBAEMA Equipment Manager of the Year 🏆 https://t.co/PsWGhjlrVc
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) June 18, 2021
Klauke was promoted to Assistant Equipment Manager in 2012 and Head Equipment Manager in 2015.
The equipment manager is responsible for day-to-day issues that fans might not think of when the team is at home and on the road. Klauke is responsible not just for making sure luggage gets from the team bus to the team plane and back, but helps set up the players’ lockers before each practice and game.
“You just get caught up in the season and playing and moving around and traveling,” Mike Conley said in a video released by the team last season, “but a guy that always has your sweats and the right pair of shoes, right shirts, the right hoodies — you don’t even have to ask for things, that’s the kind of situation you want to have and he’s set it up perfectly.”
#JazzRoadTrip:📽 Episode 5
"Adam is top-notch." —Mike Conley
With the constant travel and uniform changes, organization is key. Jazz equipment manager Adam Klauke shows us his process of making sure every player has what they need for every game.@VisibleSCM pic.twitter.com/2cuGNgIxZN
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) December 2, 2019
The award is given for outstanding achievement and professionalism that goes above and beyond both on and off the basketball court and is voted on by all 30 NBA equipment managers.
