Team:
Utah Jazz
Sport: NBA Basketball
Background: The Utah Jazz are a National
Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City,
Utah.
Founded: 1974
Formerly known as: New Orleans Jazz
(1974-79)
Home Arena: Delta Center
Uniform colors: Purple and blue
Logo design: The word "JAZZ"
superimposed over a mountain inside a gold ring with
the word "UTAH" at the top
Franchise history
The Jazz franchise began in New Orleans in 1974, and
was relocated to Salt Lake City in 1979. Reached the
NBA playoffs for 19 years in a row ending with the
2003-2004 season. Reached the NBA finals twice, only
to be beaten by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls.
On March 7, 1974, the New Orleans Jazz became the
18th member of the NBA in return for a $6.15-million
expansion franchise fee. In a trade with the Atlanta
Hawks, the Jazz acquired the flashy 6-5 Maravich as
the team's first player. Aaron James was the club's
initial selection in the NBA Draft, and the Jazz filled
out the roster with veterans plucked from other teams
in the 1974 NBA Expansion Draft. The opening lineup
included E. C. Coleman, Bud Stallworth, Walt Bellamy,
Stu Lantz, and Maravich. The organization hired Scotty
Robertson as head coach and named future Hall of Famer
Elgin Baylor as one of Robertson's assistants.
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In its first NBA regular-season game, New Orleans
lost to the New York Knicks, 89-74, producing a point
total that remained the lowest in club history throughout
the next two decades. The team then lost 10 more contests
before picking up its first victory against the Portland
Trail Blazers on November 10. With the Jazz at 1-14
on November 17 the team dismissed Robertson and hired
Butch van Breda Kolff as head coach.
Maravich became the club's marquee attraction and
top scoring threat. At Louisiana State he had rewritten
the NCAA record books, averaging 44.2 points in his
four collegiate seasons. In the pros, Maravich was
a showman. He wore a signature pair of floppy good-luck
sweat socks that always appeared to need washing.
He shot the ball from anywhere and everywhere. He
never made a simple pass when he could make an entertaining
one, so his assists regularly came from behind the
back or through the legs.
External links
Utah Jazz official web site (http://www.nba.com/jazz/)
Utah Jazz Official Summer Pro League web site (http://www.summerproleague.com/)
