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SALT LAKE CITY — It starts with the best.
That’s what Kyle Korver says, at least.
And after seeing the camaraderie and college-like atmosphere that has been so prevalent over the last two Utah Jazz seasons, it’s hard to argue.
“The teams that I’ve been on that have close locker rooms, the leaders are always the most humble guy,” Korver said.
Enter Donovan Mitchell, a charismatic young superstar-in-waiting that, as Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said, “wants to be everything to everyone.” That includes teammates, coaches, fans and the random fan he just met on the street.
Then there’s Rudy Gobert, a defensive-first big that is not only willing but takes pride in setting screens to free up teammates and shouldering a massive load on the defensive end.
With those two as the pillars of the Utah Jazz culture, the locker room environment that everyone from Korver, Ricky Rubio and even Mitchell and Gobert have called “unique” might just become the norm.
“To be an NBA player, you have to have a certain level of confidence and a certain level of drive and a certain level of belief in yourself and desire to beat the guy next to you,” Korver said. "It’s a big part of our job. But I think Dennis and the organization have brought in high-level guys that are able to balance wanting to maximize who they are and also caring about the guy next to them. It’s a hard thing to do in the NBA because it’s such a competitive business.”
It’s part of the “Jazz DNA” that Lindsey so often talks about. He wants players who are good in the community, who want to play selfless basketball and who care about the team's success more than their own.
Not surprisingly, when you get a bunch of those guys in the same room, things seem to click.
The team embraces everyone from the new top draft pick — remember how Mitchell ambushed Grayson Allen in excitement moments after Allen was drafted last year? — to players who signed with the Jazz expecting to sit near the end of the bench.
Now a number of those supposed fringe NBA players — like Royce O'Neale and Georges Niang — have shined with the Jazz. And they credit the team culture for helping them grow.
“These guys have instilled confidence in me,” Niang said. “I mean, when you have a locker room like we have where there’s no, as the young kids would say, ‘shade being thrown.’ There are no real guys, ‘hating.’ Everybody is genuinely happy for one another. I think when you have guys that genuinely instill confidence in you and coaches that instill confidence in you, the sky is the limit."
Last Thursday, a day after the Jazz’s season came to an end, players gathered at the Jazz practice facility for exit interviews and for one final media session before they said their goodbyes for the summer. Or at least for the afternoon.
That night, multiple members of the team met again to watch “Avengers: Endgame” together.
All the playful jabs in the locker room, all the on-court water bottle showers during postgame interviews, all the social media ribbing, it's not just for show. These guys are actually friends.
'It's been like watching Mozart perform': Jazz players feel Snyder is among best in the league
Jazz players recognize how Quin Snyder has given them the best chance to succeed.“The season is over and we are still hanging out,” Mitchell said. “I’ve never been so close to a team.”
Added Gobert: “We all love each other. I love every single guy in this locker room. It’s not every year I can say that. … We just like being around each other. Not only when we have to but even on days off and things like that.”
That might make this summer a little difficult. After nearly two years of mostly the same guys, there likely will be changes coming for the Jazz.
"We all know that there’s no team that stays together forever," Gobert said. "We are all kind of prepared for that."
Rubio’s, Ekpe Udoh’s and Thabo Sefolosha’s contracts are all up. Derrick Favors and Raul Neto have non-guaranteed deals. Things will be different.
“I think it's tougher for the guys, like myself, Royce, Tony (Bradley), guys that haven’t seen it as much,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, it happened with (trading) Rodney (Hood) and AB (Alec Burks), it’s one of those things.
"I love my teammates to death," Mitchell continued. "I still love Rodney and AB. Even though they are not here, we still talk. I think the bond that we have is very special and I think it’s one that’ll be there if you’re here or not here.”
