Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — It was strange for everyone.
Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, and maybe most of all, Derrick Favors.
After spending nearly a decade on the Jazz, Favors has a new jersey, a new number, and a new team. And when he lined up to face Gobert on the game's opening tip, well, it was a little strange.
“Another game,” Favors said on Thursday during practice. “Another game.”
Then he couldn’t hold in the lie anymore. The warm smile that Jazz fans are so accustomed to quickly spread over his face. He knew it, the reporters knew it, the Jazz knew it — this wasn't going to be just another game.
“No,” Favors said. “That’s how I’m gonna approach it but we'll see.”
So how did it go for the longtime Jazzman?
“It was kind of weird,” Favors said on the Jazz broadcast following the game. “I walked out and saw everybody. It felt weird but I got a chance to see everybody and it felt good out there.”
It was a unique circumstance for his first game against his former teammates. With the result of the contest not being all that important (the Pelicans ended up winning after a fourth-quarter comeback), it allowed it to be more of a carefree environment for Favors. Especially since he wasn’t all that involved in the game. He only played 11 minutes, registering two points and two rebounds against his old team.
He did collide with a Jazz player, sending them to the court — but it was Jeff Green. They were never teammates; no awkwardness there.
"Y'all are gonna be good this year and I'll be watching." pic.twitter.com/uUpJUWLaug
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 12, 2019
Favors and Gobert shared a friendly smile and shove before the tip (Gobert ended up winning it) and Favors lingered near center court following the contest to talk and embrace with Mitchell and Ingles. It was friends catching up. Heck, he even did the walk-off interview on the Jazz broadcast. That might just be the first time an opposing player has got that honor.
After spending so much time with Ingles, with Gobert, with Mitchell, with everyone, it was odd being on the other side.
“As the game went on, I had to settle down like, I’m on a different team now,” Favors said. “It was great seeing them again.”
That feeling is mutual. He’s missed. The Jazz wanted to make that crystal clear. Yes, they are excited for what they have now and the talent they acquired, but it stung to lose someone like Favors.
‘We had a great relationship, especially on the court,” Ingles said. “I feel like we were the best pick-and-roll combo in the league for a little while there. Obviously, wish him all the best. He was unbelievable for us and the team and all he did for the Jazz and he’s a greay guy too.”
But it wasn’t just on the court. Mitchell talked about how Favors is the type of teammate that you could go to with anything and get advice — something he often did in his first couple of seasons.
“We’ve been through so much in my three years,” Mitchell said. “He’s been the guy that’s been consistent, never a dull day with Fave, he’s always lighthearted. He’s funnier than people realize — people don’t really get to see that part of him. We miss him for sure.”
“He’s given me so much insight and helped me so much throughout my career,” Mitchell continued. “I hope I've done a little bit the same for him. You can come to him with anything. You can come with any problem — on or off the floor — and just kind of talk to him and he'll be there for you and always have your back. Whether it’s giving advice on life, advice on the court, he’s always mild-mannered but he’s always a great dude.”
