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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (February 8, 2007) - The Utah Jazz will raise jersey #4 to the rafters on Wednesday, April 11, during a halftime ceremony in honor of Adrian Dantley. The Jazz play the Denver Nuggets that night. Dantley played for the Utah Jazz during the 1979 - 1986 seasons and is currently in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Nuggets.
Dantley helped the Jazz to its first three playoff appearances in franchise history (1984-86), starting a run of 20 straight seasons that the Jazz made the NBA playoffs. Dantley also led the Jazz to its first winning season in 1983-84, the first of an NBA record 21 straight seasons the Jazz would finish with a .500 or better record (1983-2004).
"Adrian was an important building block in the foundation of the Jazz's playoff dynasty that lasted 20 years," said Larry H. Miller. "He is part of the legacy of this franchise, and we are pleased to retire his jersey."
One of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Dantley amassed 23,177 points during his 15-year NBA career and currently ranks 18th on the league's all-time scoring list.
Acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on September 13, 1979, in exchange for Spencer Haywood, Dantley joined the Jazz for his fourth NBA season and the franchise's first in Utah.
A 6-5, 208-pound forward, Dantley was a six-time NBA All-Star during his seven seasons in Utah (1979-86), earning All-NBA Second-Team honors twice (1980-81, '83-84) while leading the NBA in scoring both years. He was named the NBA's 1984 Comeback Player of the Year after missing a majority of the 1982-83 season with torn ligaments in his right wrist.
Overall, Dantley appeared in 461 games as a Jazzman averaging a franchise-record 29.6 points per game, with 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.09 steals while shooting .562 (best in franchise history).
Dantley also ranks in the top 10 all-time in numerous other Jazz categories, including points scored (3rd), free throws made and attempted (3rd), field goals made and attempted (4th), assists (6th), rebounds (7th), and steals (8th). He still owns three of the top six scoring games in franchise history, including 57 points vs. Chicago on December 4, 1982. Dantley scored 40 or more points 49 times as a member of the Jazz.
