Jazz prepare for Summer League with new outlook


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SALT LAKE CITY — The Jazz are preparing for the Las Vegas Summer League, and players are looking forward to the fresh perspective the new coaching staff will bring.

The Jazz Summer League roster has familiar faces on it such as Trey Burke and Rudy Gobert. However, there will be plenty of new faces for Jazz fans to become familiar with. Danté Exum, Rodney Hood and new head coach Quin Snyder will all make their debuts in Vegas next week.

Judging on the comments from Wednesday's practice, the Jazz are looking forward to starting a new chapter led by Burke. Burke is only headed into his second year of the NBA, but seems to be proving himself as a leader. Snyder said he looks forward to Burke stepping into a new leadership role. “He is verbal … which will help his ability to lead, but he’s definitely got a presence.”


(Burke) has pretty much been the leader, he has been out there going first in all the drills, teaching us, showing us different things about the NBA game, he has been really good for us.

–Rodney Hood


Rookie Rodney Hood added, “(Burke) has pretty much been the leader, he has been out there going first in all the drills, teaching us, showing us different things about the NBA game, he has been really good for us.”

Hood also said he appreciates how Snyder is pushing him at an NBA level. “(Coach told me) just be more aggressive, not to try to ease my way in,” he said. “It has been really competitive … we’re going hard … it’s been great, I’m kind of used to playing in competitive practices coming from Duke but, I mean it’s obviously a higher level.”

Big-man Gobert spent last season under coach Tyrone Corbin but is looking forward to how his game will develop under Snyder.

“(Coach Snyder) has given me confidence, he tells me to play simple and to communicate.” Gobert said that he now plays with less pressure and he plays with more freedom under Snyder compared with Corbin.

From the comments of the young players, the Jazz are excited to finally bring all their hard work together in their Summer League games. It will be interesting to see how the players react to Snyder and what kind of role Burke will have this upcoming year.

The Jazz’s first Summer League game is on Saturday, July 12, against the Philadelphia 76ers at 8:30 p.m.


Lindsey Peterson is a Brigham Young University student studying broadcast journalism. Contact her at lindspeterson4@hotmail.com or on Twitter @LindsPetey.

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