Tony Bradley: Utah Jazz Season In Review

Apr 9, 2020, 6:00 PM | Updated: Apr 24, 2020, 3:39 pm

Tony Bradley walks on the court during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on November 11, 2019 in San Francisco, California. Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

BY BEN ANDERSON, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA is in a standstill as a result of the coronavirus outbreak that has sidelined professional sports across the globe. With 18 games left to play in the regular season for the Utah Jazz, and a date with the postseason on the line, it’s unclear when or if the season will return.

With game action in a holding pattern, it’s an ideal time to look at each player on the Jazz roster and how they have performed this season. Have they exceeded or failed to meet expectations, have they improved their game, remained steady, or seen a decrease in their level of play. Finally, how will they impact the team when games return, whether that’s to finish the 2019-20 season, or to begin the 2020-21 season.

The order of player evaluations will be done by jersey number, starting with the team’s lowest, and working to the team’s highest number.

Tony Bradley – 13 – Center

Stats: 4.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.3 apg: .665%/1.00%/.650%

Tony Bradley was likely facing a make or break season entering the year for the Jazz. The former 28th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft had played a total of 12 games in his first two seasons with the franchise and entered the year buried in the depth chart once again.

After losing Derrick Favors over the summer, the Jazz signed center Ed Davis who seemed like the ideal back up center for Rudy Gobert in the team’s second unit.

However, the Jazz bench unit struggled despite a series of shakeups and Davis never quite found a role in the team’s offense that relied more heavily on a big man that could roll to the hoop.

I'm blown away by the progress Tony Bradley is making. 7 points, making free throws, defending well, offensive rebounds and nice passes in this game. Ran the floor, caught the pass and finished in traffic. pic.twitter.com/Fp0JXRYnWt

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) January 7, 2020

After suffering a leg fracture six games into the season, Bradley was forced into the rotation and showed the value of a big man who can catch the ball and finish near the rim in Quin Snyder’s system.

Davis retook the backup job after a 12 game absence but once again struggled to fit in with the bench. Bradley overtook Davis in late December as the Jazz shook up their lineup trading for guard Jordan Clarkson and waiving forward Jeff Green and hasn’t looked back.

Tony Bradley for 3? TONY BRADLEY FOR 3!!!! #TakeNote #UtahJazz #NBA #NBATwitter pic.twitter.com/P9gGNdqo4r

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 29, 2020

Bradley is far from a perfect player but has proven his value as an NBA player with a knack for rebounding and frame that is tough to contain when rolling to the hoop.

The third-year center has surprisingly good hands that help both as a rebounder and catching tough passes which has made him an ideal pick and roll partner with Joe Ingles and the Jazz second unit.

Seems like one of the big changes with Tony Bradley lately has been his confidence.

He seemed to be trying so hard to not do anything wrong earlier this year, now he looks like he's just playing and it's helping the Jazz.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 21, 2020

At times, Bradley’s inexperience is still apparent on the floor, regularly leaving his feet to contest jump shots which can lead to foul trouble when a standing shot contest would suffice. His lack of speed causes him to struggle against the smaller lineups that are becoming more common around the league. However, that’s a minor complaint considering the number of good things he’s shown on the floor.

Bradley has been one of the team’s most unexpected bright spots this season and is a testament to the Jazz organization’s patience and player development abilities. Though Bradley lacks the physical gifts to be a starting center in the NBA, he should continue to play a solid role off the bench as he continues to add to his game.

While it seemed like a gamble for the Jazz to pick up Bradley’s qualifying offer for the 2020-21 season before the year began, that looks like a wise move for a player that will likely enter next season penciled as the team’s back up for Gobert.

Furthermore, Bradley’s consistency should allow the Jazz to move Davis in hopes of returning an asset that is more likely to help the team this offseason.