Faces new and old highlight Jazz Media Day


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SALT LAKE CITY — The season is here. A week away from the team's first preseason game, the Utah Jazz held their annual Media Day Monday to kick off one of the most anticipated seasons in memory.

Here were some of the most notable quotes from the three hours of Jazz media availability.

Team's improvement

The Jazz have added veteran pieces to their roster in George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw, but the core of the team is still relatively young. Gordon Hayward is 26, Derrick Favors is 25, Rudy Gobert is 24, and Rodney Hood is 23. General manager Dennis Lindsey knows that those players can take lessons from other NBA players who have continued to grow during their mid-20s.

"Frankly, we use those (examples) to challenge our players. To say, 'Hey, this is how your career arc is looking. This is what you're going to have to do to break through,'" said Lindsey. "We challenged Gordon Hayward, for example, to be like Steve Nash and have a mid-to-late 20s improvement."

It may be the youngest players on the roster who have the biggest shot to improve, though. Dante Exum just turned 21, and Trey Lyles just turned 20. We'll be able to learn more about what they've added to their games this offseason next Monday, Oct. 3, when the Jazz play Portland in their first preseason game.

Exum's return

Not having seen Exum play in a game in about 15 months, fans are obviously craving to see the former fifth overall pick. I asked Lindsey and fellow point guard Hill on what they've seen from the Australian.

"He has progressed. Not only has he gotten healthy, but he's developed," Lindsey said. "He's playing differently in our OTAs than he's ever played before, except for the one summer league game."

"I think he's where he needs to be," said Hill. "From where he's at right now, I think the sky's the limit. He's 6-6, long, his shot has started to develop a lot now, he can get to the basket, very good court vision. As long as he stays healthy and continues to get better, staying in the gym, working on film, working on his shot, I think he's going to be a great player in this league for a long time."

Exum told the media that he struggled with the NBA's physicality in his rookie season, and so he's trying to counter that by adding muscle. He confirmed that he now weighs 205 pounds, 15 more than he was listed at coming into his rookie season.

Johnson coming off bench

Joe Johnson has started every game of his NBA career since 2003, so it was fair for some to wonder if that streak would be continuing in Utah, despite having Rodney Hood and Gordon Hayward on the depth chart.

It looks like Johnson knows he likely won't be the starter.

"That was brought to me prior to me committing to the Jazz. I understood everything that was possible of happening. I didn't come here trying to be a star or a starter," Johnson said. "I understand what (Snyder) wants from me as a player, and that's to help these young guys, guys such as Rodney and Gordon, tell them about some of the things that I've been through and help them out with their experiences."

Veteran "cheats"

Hood, by the way, is excited to have Johnson around. "It's a great feeling to have that mentor type of guy that I haven't had for my first couple years," Hood said.

Hood said he modeled much of his game after Johnson's example; remember, Hood was just 9 years old when Johnson debuted in the NBA.

So what can Johnson teach Hood from up close? "I think it's more of the savvy things. He has the total package as far as being athletic, can shoot, create, those are the things that has gotten him here," Johnson said.

"But there are little savvy things that you learn along the way. Quote-unquote cheats. As you become a veteran you begin to learn the tricks of the trade. If he can learn those things early in his career, I think he can be even better."

Shelvin Mack, too, raved about the example of Johnson. Hood, Mack and Johnson all worked out together in Atlanta during the summer, where they saw firsthand the effort it requires from Johnson to stay strong going into his 16th year in the NBA.

Social issues

With players around the NFL joining San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem, Lindsey, Snyder, Hayward and Favors were asked about their opinions on the issue.

Snyder and Lindsey took an individualistic approach.

"We're not the thought police. We want our players to have individual feelings about social issues, because they're coming from different backgrounds," Lindsey said.

"We do think that it's very important that our players are socially aware, that are good citizens, that have opinions."

His head coach agreed.

"We've encouraged our guys to read and formulate their own opinions and their ideas," Snyder said. "I'm pleased with the culture that is here that values both unity and social justice."

Meanwhile, Hayward and Favors said they're both learning more about the issue, and that while the team has discussed Kaepernick's statement, they haven't made a decision on what kind of action they'll take as a team.

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Andy Larsen

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