Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz play in the Northwest Division of the NBA's Western Conference. The Jazz were originally located in New Orleans before moving to Utah in 1979.

Team owner, Larry H. Miller, died on February 20, 2009 due to complications of type 2 diabetes. Miller was 64.The Spectrum: Jazz Owner Dies at Age 64 (February 20, 2009)

The Jazz drafted guard John Stockton in 1984 and forward Karl Malone the following year. The two would go on to become one of the greatest duos in NBA history. Stockton was able to use his skilled passing to find Malone and make them nearly unstoppable. The two utilized the pick-and-roll to near perfection. However, despite regular season success, the Jazz spent many years without going deep into the playoffs.

In 1997, the Jazz finally made it through the Western Conference to reach the NBA Finals, with Malone winning the regular season MVP award. The Jazz would end up losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in 6 games. The same two teams met again in the 1998 NBA Finals. But the Jazz would see the same fate as Jordan hit a game-winning jump shot in the final minute of game six to give the Bulls their sixth NBA title in eight years.

A few seasons later, Stockton retired and Malone left to join the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jazz would be in a rebuilding process before reaching the playoffs again in 2007.

• Larry H. Miller:
  • Owner of Utah Jazz, KJZZ, and EnergySolutions Arena (formerly Delta Center)
• Jerry Sloan:
  • Head Coach 1988 - Current
  • Former Head Coach Chicago Bulls 1979 - 1982
  • Fourth All-Time Winningest NBA Coach
  • Currently in 19th season as Head Coach of Jazz
  • Longest Tenured Single Franchise Coach in Professional Sports

• 1974: Founded as New Orleans Jazz

• 1979: Moved to Utah

• 1997-98: Lost to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals

John Stockton - Number 12, Guard, Inducted 2009 Adrian Dantley - Number 4, Forward-Guard, Inducted 2008 Pete Maravich - Number 44 and 7, Guard, Inducted 1987 (New Orleans) Gail Goodrich - Number 25, Guard, Inducted 1996 (New Orleans) Walt Bellamy - Number 8, Center, Inducted 1993 (New Orleans)

There are 2 Utah/New Orleans Jazz coaches in the hall of fame: Jerry Sloan - Inducted 2009 (as a coach) Elgin Baylor - Number 22, Forward, Inducted 1977 (as a player for the Lakers, but coached New Orleans)