Highlights Outshine Slow Starts For Former Jazz Players

Salt Lake City, Utah – The Utah Jazz said goodbye to several notable players over the summer. 

In order to build the team the organization believes can contend for a Western Conference title, the Jazz were forced to part ways with a handful of contributors from last year’s roster.

While the Jazz newcomers have helped lead them to a promising 2-1 start, many former Jazzmen are off to slow starts through one week of the NBA season.

Ricky Rubio

The Jazz face former Jazzman Monday night as they travel to Phoenix to play Ricky Rubio and the Suns. 

The Suns are off to a promising 2-1 star, crushing the Sacramento Kings, barely losing in overtime to the Denver Nuggets, and taking down the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Clippers. 

Rubio missed the Suns surprising victory over the Clippers with a knee contusion, but has otherwise looked like the same steady veteran Jazz fans saw in Utah. The Spanish guard is averaging 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in just over 32 minutes for Phoenix. 

Ricky Rubio's presence last night was huge in the Suns' blowout win over Sacramento. Phoenix scored 30 points directly off Rubio assists, steals, and charges: pic.twitter.com/BsfkxWqWNp

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) October 24, 2019

Despite his well-balanced stuffing stat line, Rubio’s struggles as a shooter have carried over from his time in Utah. Rubio is connecting on just 26 percent of his shots, and has missed all three of this three-point attempts. 

Rubio’s passing has been contagious in Phoenix, where the Suns lead the league in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. 

The Jazz let Rubio walk in free-agency after trading for Mike Conley in July. 

Jae Crowder

Jae Crowder made his presence known in Memphis knocking down a buzzer-beating three pointer to stun the Brooklyn Nets Sunday in overtime. 

"CROWDER, FOR THE WIN…"

👀 all the angles from @CJC9BOSS' overtime #TissotBuzzerBeater for the @memgrizz! #ThisIsYourTime #GrindCity pic.twitter.com/7WnYeaK7l9

— NBA (@NBA) October 28, 2019

Crowder has started all three games for the Grizzlies so far, and like Rubio, has seen a bountiful stat line marred by poor shooting. 

The eight-year veteran is averaging 10.7 points, seven rebounds and just under four assists, but is shooting just 33 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. 

Crowder’s 33 minutes per game are the most on the roster, and provide the Grizzles with a steadying presence for an otherwise young starting lineup. 

The forward was one of several assets traded to Memphis in return for Conley.

Derrick Favors

Prepare for some heartbreak Jazz fans. 

Derrick Favors hasn’t had the breakout start to the season in New Orleans that many expected. Favors is playing just 20 minutes per game for the Pelicans, fewer than he was playing in Utah, despite being the starting center. 

Favors stat line averages are down nearly across the board. 

His points per game are down from 11.8 to 8.7, rebounds are down from 7.4 to 6.3, and blocks are down 1.4 to .3. 

Favors is dominating early on, with 10 points so far in the first#WontBowDown pic.twitter.com/WYetWcRsnB

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) October 26, 2019

Even without Zion Williamson in the lineup, Favors is closing games on the bench in New Orleans. 

The Jazz traded Favors to New Orleans for two Golden State Warriors second round picks.

Kyle Korver

Two-time Jazzman Kyle Korver appeared on the brink of retirement over the summer, before landing on the championship contending Milwaukee Bucks.

Korver looks revitalized in his 17th year in the league, shooting nearly 42 percent from the three-point line in a Bucks uniform on six attempts per game. 

Korver in the corner pocket…

"Ay, you can count that!!" – @lanky_smoove pic.twitter.com/S3bdJOkIu2

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 18, 2019

The sharpshooter’s minutes are down, but his shot attempts are nearly identical from last season, improving his per minute production through two games in Milwaukee. 

The Jazz shipped Korver to Memphis as a part of the Conley deal. 

Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen had a breakout performance in the final game of the regular season for the Jazz last year when he scored 40 points in 40 minutes. 

He’s yet to replicate that production in Memphis. 

Grayson Allen goes coast-to-coast and throws it down! @memgrizz #NBAPreseason pic.twitter.com/ZPG1lRshIy

— NBA (@NBA) October 6, 2019

Allen is the last man off the bench in a 10 man Grizzly rotation, but is still playing just under 18 minutes per game. 

His averages of 5.7 points, 1.3 rebound and two assists are similar to what he contributed in Utah, but his shooting numbers are down. Allen is sinking just 27 percent of his shots from the field and beyond the three-point line.

Allen was the key young player moved to Memphis in exchange for Conley. 

Thabo Sefolosha

Appearing alongside former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Thabo Sefolosha is once again filling in as a defensive role player for the Houston Rockets. 

Sefolosha has yet to score for the Rockets in 24 total minutes on the floor, but has snared 11 rebounds and dished out three assists through two games. 

The Swiss forward’s 12 minutes per game are similar to what he averaged in Utah, and the Rockets could use the 47 percent and 43 percent shooting percentages he provided the Jazz last year. 

Sefolosha left the Jazz in free-agency over the summer. 

Raul Neto

Of all the former Jazzmen, Raul Neto has assumed the smallest role with his new team. 

The Philadelphia 76ers have played Neto just seven total minutes in two games, stashed behind Ben Simmons and Shake Milton. 

Neto has made two of his three shot attempts, but his playing time is down drastically from the 12.8 minutes he averaged in a Jazz uniform last season. 

Neto is faring better than former Jazzman Trey Burke who has yet to record a regular season minute in a 76ers uniform.