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MEMPHIS — Juan Toscano-Anderson stopped mid sentence as he reflected on his first minutes with the Utah Jazz.
"I love basketball, so to be able to get out and play the game that I enjoy, especially with this team," he said following Utah's 117-111 loss to Memphis. "I like the vibe of this team."
That's when the swingman paused for a brief moment.
"Let me correct myself: I love the vibe of this team."
It's been four days since Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones got to a New York City hotel to meet their new team. Wednesday's experience offered more proof to what he already believed: Being with the Jazz could be a liberating experience.
He won't always see 25 minutes of action — Lauri Markkanen and Rudy Gay were both out Wednesday, and Collin Sexton joined them early in the contest — but he's seen that there is an opportunity in Utah if he proves he can help winning.
If anything, he and fellow newcomer, Jones, showed on Wednesday that Jazz coach Will Hardy could look to them again, if needed.
Toscano-Anderson played 25 "refreshing" minutes on Wednesday — the most he's played in a game since November 2021, and the first since the trade that brought him to Utah last week. Jones played eight minutes, but provided a big spark with his athleticism. The Jazz won those eight minutes by 10 points.
It didn't take them long to fit right in with the team.
Toscan-Anderson hit a corner 3-pointer shortly after checking in late in the first quarter; and as for Jones, the first play the Jazz called when he entered the game in the third quarter was a lob for him. He mishandled it, but a little later he added an athletic alley-oop finish.
Toscano-Anderson had 7 points and 10 rebounds, while Jones finished with 7 points, two rebounds and two blocks.
"I thought that their competitiveness, their athleticism, their physicality really stood out tonight," Hardy said. "I thought they helped change the tempo of the game."
That was especially obvious with Jones. It takes a special athlete to pop in an NBA game, and Jones did that. His electric lob finish in the third quarter was the highlight, but there was so much more to it.
Jones outran players down the court, the two blocks he had came because of how fast he was off his feet, and he held up just fine when he was switched onto Memphis guards on the perimeter. It was only eight minutes, but he may have just grabbed the backup center minutes from Udoka Azubuike.
"Yesterday, we went over some script, so I got to learn some new plays," he said.
It was during Jones' time on the court that the Jazz made a big push to get back in the game — sounds like he's ready to learn a few more.
New Jazz players 'relieved' about leaving LA, excited for 'new opportunity' in Utah
When Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson found out they had been traded to Utah from the Los Angeles Lakers, there was a sense of hope."I thought that Damian came in and really gave us a burst, athletically," Hardy said. "He ended up having a couple of nice finishes above the rim. Defensively, showed some ability to stay in front of the ball and alter shots at the rim — clearly a great athlete."
Hardy praised Toscano-Anderson's communication on the defense end and how he made quick decisions offensively. Toscano-Anderson spent his first years in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and got accustomed to playing in a read-heavy system where everyone is part of the set; it's one similar to what Hardy has installed in Utah.
The transition hasn't been too foreign to him.
"I think I could fit anywhere. I think that's the beauty of this offense, the beauty of this structure, this team — very dynamic," he said. "Wherever coach is comfortable putting me, I think I can thrive."
No wonder he likes — no, wait — loves the vibe.
