Jarred Vanderbilt has fouled a lot. Here's why the Jazz aren't concerned

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SALT LAKE CITY — Jarred Vanderbilt's energy has no doubt been a major catalyst to Utah's surprising 4-1 start.

He gets rebounds he has no business getting, his tip outs save possessions, and his drive to fight for every loose ball, no matter what happens, has sparked the relentless energy the Jazz have played with over the first week of the season.

You know the common saying that the NBA season is a marathon not a sprint? Well, Vanderbilt seems pretty set on trying to make every game a 100-meter dash.

That has resulted in some good things for the Jazz so far. The problem? He's picked up quite a few fouls in the process.

Vanderbilt fouled out for the second time in five games Wednesday in Utah's win over Houston. In two other games, he was one foul away from fouling out. Vanderbilt has committed the most fouls of any other player in the league so far this season; he's averaging 5.2 per game in 24.4 minutes of action.

So is his style of play sustainable if he is getting that many whistles?

The good news here is that Vanderbilt has always been this aggressive going after loose balls and rebounds, and he hasn't had fouling trouble in the past. He averaged just 2.4 fouls last season in about the same number of minutes.

Jazz coach Will Hardy doesn't think the calls have had anything to do with his nonstop hustle that has already made him a fan favorite in Utah.

"It's not his physicality, it's not his activity, it's two or three games that are just unnecessary," Hardy said. "I think his fifth foul tonight (it was his fourth), he was pushing someone in the back 16 feet from the basket on an offensive rebound that he really wasn't even going for.

"I think it's just trying to find ways to understand the moment of the game, understand his own foul situation. Just try to keep away from some of those cheap ones."

Like his final one when he was called for stepping under a shooter's landing space. Those are the ones that Hardy wants him to avoid.

As for Vanderbilt, he said he feels the game's been called a bit tighter this season, and it's something he has to adjust to as the season develops.

"So just kind of got to work through it and try to limit the ones that I can," Vanderbilt said. "Kind of reaching ones or something because I'm not getting a super easy whistle right now. So just kind of limit those, the questionable ones, that I do get. It'll allow me to still stay in the game."

Hardy said the last thing he wants is for Vanderbilt to play differently. Vanderbilt has a sixth sense for rebounds that has drawn comparisons to Dennis Rodman. He just seems to know where the ball will be and will try his darnedest to get there — and the Jazz don't want to take that away.

Hardy just wants him — and everyone else — to do it without fouling.

"I think our team has prided itself on our physicality and aggressiveness on both ends; forcing turnovers, going into the glass and doing both of those things can draw a whistle," Hardy said. "I'm not ever trying to ratchet back our team's intensity. I think that's a big part of our identity."