Jazz media day blog: Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with musician girlfriend

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz will fly to Hawaii Monday for training camp, but first there's media day.

Follow along as the Utah Jazz players spend their morning speaking about their summers, their goals and plenty of other things.

Monday, 11:36 am

Jazz players believe they are a playoff team

Last week, Will Hardy didn't express any specific team goals, choosing instead to speak in vague language when asked about expectations.There's wisdom to that at times. The Jazz, after all, are still in the rebuilding process. Putting the target too high or too low just doesn't make much sense.As for the players, though, they have no qualms saying just what they want.Lauri Markkanen has played in an All-Star game and major international knockout games, but he's never experienced the NBA playoffs. He's hoping that changes this season."That's that's the goal," Markkanen said. "That's what we're trying to work towards. I still haven't made the playoffs. So that's really one thing that I'm looking forward to, getting on that stage and really experiencing that but yeah, that's the one motivator for us."The Western Conference is stacked. Outside of the playoff qualifiers last spring, you have an improving Oklahoma City team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic's Dallas squad, and New Orleans and a (potentially) healthy Zion Williamson. Even the Spurs have No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama and Houston appears to at least be trying to win.So, yeah, it'll be tough to break through, but the Jazz are expecting to compete for a spot."I always say at least playoffs. I mean, I'm shooting as high as possible. I don't like thinking about coming up short," he said. "So I'm saying for us at least a playoff berth for us is showing that we're progressing and going in the right direction. I want that Larry O'Brien trophy. At the end of the day that's what I'm here for. That's what I'm playing this game for."So I'm gonna go out every day and try to attack the other squad and do my job as best as I can to get that but right now I'd say for us is improving, getting to the playoffs and getting some experience is good for us."Veteran point guard Kris Dunn, who is a non-guaranteed contract heading into camp, but is expected to be on the team (if not be a key contributor), said that there's beauty in not having a couple superstars leading the way; especially if it leads to a lot of unselfish basketball.He said the Jazz could potentially be like Germany and Serbia, who played in the FIBA World Cup final despite not having as many NBA stars as the USA, Canada or Australia due to how they played as a team."For sure," Dunn said when asked if the Jazz were a playoff team. "It's not gonna be easy. As you can see, there are a lot of teams out there making moves, But if you look at the FIBA games, the teams that play together, they win games. I think if we play hard, anything's possible. So we just gotta have that mentality."

Monday, 10:35 am

Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with his musician girlfriend

Jordan Clarkson lives a different life, even than most NBA players. That point was further illustrated this summer.When asked what the most unique thing he did over the break was, Clarkson told the story of the time he was involved in bus crash while on tour with his musician girlfriend, Maggine Lindemann, in Europe"I don't know if it's unique, but it was kind of scary. I went on tour with my girl for like two weeks and we got in a tour bus crash," Clarkson said. "The driver, uh, sorry for the driver. I mean he got sick and like almost passed out and the bus swerved off the road on the highway."Wait, what?"Yeah, everybody was fine, but the bus was like sitting like this," he said, using his hands to show how it was tilting."I was at a random gas station," he continued. "I think we were like in Germany and we stayed there, I want to say, like 14 hours waiting for a new driver."Yup, he lives a different life.

Monday, 10:56 am

John Collins says he is excited to, in a way, be back home

The question started with a disclaimer."I know you don't identify with Utah and, obviously, didn't grow up here," a reporter began his query to John Collins.That's when Collins jumped in."Don't say that, I identify with Utah!" the Jazz forward said.Collins was born at Hill Air Force Base — just about 30 minutes up the road from Delta Center. No, he didn't grow up in Utah and doesn't have memories from state, but that doesn't mean he doesn't think that's a special coincidence.He was an Air Force kid — moving from one place to the next all throughout his life. All of them hold some significance."So very cool to me to be back here," Collins said. "I've always dreamed of being an NBA player, and being born here and now being able to, in a way, come back home and play for the Jazz, put the Jazz jersey on my chest is special. I think it's unique and I'm trying to make most out of it."Growing up in a military family, Collins learned how to easily make new friends and connect with people quickly. That's something that he believes will serve him well as he adjust to a new team."I don't necessarily have a home base or a hometown as I was traveling all around as a kid," he said. "That obviously made me be more outgoing and just caused me to find new friends at a younger age and just learn how to detach but also keep those relationships and those good memories. … So definitely using that here in a locker room with the coaches and with everybody."Collins said the new environment is "refreshing." He pointed out how little ego there is in the Jazz locker room and there's part of the whole experience that makes him feel like he's back in his first season in the NBA."In some ways. I feel like a rookie again — getting to meet a new staff, new teammates; it's a new environment," he said. "It's refreshing and I'm ready to get started."

Monday, 08:58 am

Kelly Olynyk is ready for season, but is excited for what's coming next summer

Walker Kessler knows there will be a bit of a difference between playing next to Kelly Olynyk and John Collins."Kelly's probably at a higher jumper," Kessler said with his usual dry wit. "Kelly is an unbelievably talented player, but I think right off the bat, obviously athleticism."Collins is an above the rim player; Olynyk is more, let's say, cerebral.When told of Kessler's answer, Olynyk clapped back a bit."Young kids, they think athleticism means running and jumping," Olynyk said.And in the friendly back and forth, Olynyk has the ultimate trump card: a FIBA bronze medal he won with Canada against Kessler's USA squad."That's a lot of ammo in the backpack," Olynyk said.When it comes to medals, Olynyk has his eyes set on next summer, too. With Canada's high finish at the World Cup, the team qualified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and that's something that Olynyk has been dreaming of for a long time.It's been over 20 years since Canada last made an Olympic games. Olynyk said he remembers waking up early and sitting on his aunt's carpet floor as he watched those 2000 Sydney games."The whole nation was behind it," he said of that Steve Nash-led squad.It's been his goal to be part of that same squad ever since. Next summer, he'll get the chance."When you're a kid, you're like, 'Oh, I'm gonna do that one day. I'm gonna do that one day.' And now we have the opportunity."

Monday, 08:32 am

Ochai Agbaji is entering just his second year, but he sees himself as a leader

Ochai Agbaji played plenty of roles during his first season with the Utah Jazz.He was a G League guy, someone learning from the bench, a 3-and-D wing, and eventually, even, a leading option."I learned something from every role," he said. "Learning something from the G League, how can I use that when I'm getting minimal minutes with the Jazz? I think that's kind of where I started at. And then as I got more minutes throughout the season, it was kind of like thinking back to the G league and what I did there."So what role does he foresee being a more permanent one this season?"Really just kind of stepping into a little bit of a leadership role, as far as making sure everyone is aligned on our team and just being that guy that people look towards or look to for confidence," Agbaji said.Hey, he's done just about everything else, why not add being a young veteran leader to the mix, too.Agabji said that early last season was a bit chaotic. He had just joined a new team and was trying to find his footing. Now, there's a new confidence in him."Going into this year, I feel a lot more confident, obviously," Agbaji said. "Playing with some of the guys that we have on our team now and knowing what our goal is for this year and kind of putting it all together."

Monday, 07:43 am

Keyonte George says he wants to be rookie of the year

Keyonte George isn't afraid to set high goals for himself."I want to be rookie of the year," George said.And he's been preparing to have a first season worthy of that. He's spent the summer in Utah, rehabbing the ankle he injured in July and working out with his new teammates. But there's more, he's even gone back to last season to see how Mike Conley ran the Jazz offense."I'm young and you can say I haven't done anything in this league yet, but I think day in and day out, I'm putting in the work you know, already locked in," George said. "I'm looking at what the team did last year looking at what Mike did to see how he was able to get guys shots."That type of work is part of his process to becoming a lead ball handler in the NBA — and he hopes it helps his teammates know how much he wants to be great."At some point, I'll be able to gain that trust and be able to lead this team in a way and continue to make winning plays," George said.George has been on the NBA's radar for a while, after being one of the best high school players in the country during his prep days. But that didn't make Monday any less surreal for the young guard."A lot of people dream about being in the seat and not a lot of people get to do it," George siad. "Of course you put this goal on the wall or whatever, but a lot of times it doesn't come true. So it's just a credit to my circle and everybody that's pushed me to get here. Try to be the best version of myself."

Monday, 07:16 am

Taylor Hendricks says it's 'crazy' to be getting ready for first NBA season

A year ago, Taylor Hendricks was looking ahead, but not to the NBA."I was worried about having a good enough team to go to the big dance, March Madness," Hendricks said.Flash forward to Monday and he was sitting with an NBA jersey on taking part in his first NBA media day."It's crazy," Hendricks said.Hendricks has been part of a Jazz rookie group that has spent the better part of the summer training together in Salt Lake City. He has spent so much time in Utah — he only went back to Orlando for a week — that his mother opted to just stick out West with him.What's he been working on?"My handle, just working on different types of reads and my shot," Hendricks said.And he's already gotten some good advice from the Utah veterans, specifically from Collin Sexton."We've been on the same team for a lot of the runs, and just teaching me and challenging me to do different things," Hendricks said.

Jazz media day blog: Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with musician girlfriend

By Ryan Miller, KSL | Updated - Oct. 2, 2023 at 11:53 a.m. | Posted - Oct. 2, 2023 at 7:39 a.m.

Jazz players believe they are a playoff team

Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with his musician girlfriend

John Collins says he is excited to, in a way, be back home

Kelly Olynyk is ready for season, but is excited for what's coming next summer

Ochai Agbaji is entering just his second year, but he sees himself as a leader

Keyonte George says he wants to be rookie of the year

Taylor Hendricks says it's 'crazy' to be getting ready for first NBA season

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Jazz media day blog: Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with musician girlfriend

By Ryan Miller, KSL | Updated - Oct. 2, 2023 at 11:53 a.m. | Posted - Oct. 2, 2023 at 7:39 a.m.

Jazz players believe they are a playoff team

Jordan Clarkson got in a bus crash while on tour with his musician girlfriend

John Collins says he is excited to, in a way, be back home

Kelly Olynyk is ready for season, but is excited for what's coming next summer

Ochai Agbaji is entering just his second year, but he sees himself as a leader

Keyonte George says he wants to be rookie of the year

Taylor Hendricks says it's 'crazy' to be getting ready for first NBA season

Most recent Utah Jazz stories

Desmond Bane scores 32 points, including winning layup, to lead Magic past Jazz in OT

Keyonte George showing he's 'pretty freaking good' after 3rd straight 30-point night

Doncic notches 40-point triple-double as Lakers escape Jazz 143-135

Related topics

More stories you may be interested in

Doncic notches 40-point triple-double as Lakers escape Jazz 143-135

Got an old Utah Jazz jersey? The team is willing to trade it for a new one

Dixie High star lacrosse athlete loses his arm in accident, but not his spirit to compete

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