'He's a warrior': Fontecchio looked like a boxer after Jazz win, and that's just fine with him

SALT LAKE CITY — Simone Fontecchio sported a fat lip and a large bump on his head as he stood next to his locker following the Utah Jazz's 114-112 win over New Orleans Monday, looking much more like a prize fighter than a basketball player.

"I got beat up — many times," Fontecchio said, pointing to the places on his face that were feeling a little off. "I was on the floor all game long. I was just trying to play hard, like always; I guess that's the result."

That type of maxed-out effort is an old hat for Fontecchio. His teammates have seen it for over a year, mostly behind closed doors. There are the dives to the floor during practices and the all-out sprints in scrimmages. Everyone else is starting to catch a peek, too.

In the last nine games, Fontecchio has averaged nearly 20 minutes per game — time often defined by hustle plays, falls to the floor, and a sweet stroke from 3-point range. Fontecchio got a crack at the rotation when Walker Kessler had to sit out multiple games to heal a sprained elbow and has made the most of the opportunity.

Since getting consistent time, Fontecchio has averaged 7.8 points on 42% shooting from deep and earned more and more trust along the way. He started the last two games in place of an injured Lauri Markkanen and scored a season-high 14 points Monday while helping keep Brandon Ingram to an inefficient 25 points.

That defensive effort stood out to Jazz coach Will Hardy.

"He's a warrior. He probably got hit in the face five times tonight," Hardy said. "I think his effort kind of rubs off on everybody. He's flying around out there. I'm really happy for him. I don't think coming into this season he saw himself as somebody that would guard a Brandon Ingram, but he's showing us every day that he's capable of giving us more."

When told of those comments by his coach, Fontecchio responded: "Maybe not him; maybe Will didn't." He smiled and quickly added, "just kidding" with a chuckle.

There were tough moments last season for Fontecchio, his first with the Jazz and in the NBA. He came to Utah as a 26-year-old rookie, moving his wife and their young daughter to a new country to play in a foreign league.

He uprooted his life to chase a dream; the pursuit brought some challenges. His family had to navigate a new city while he adjusted to the NBA game. It was far from easy.

"We were just trying to figure it out — Where are we? Where is the grocery store? Where do we gotta go? — it was a lot," Fontecchio said.

A year later, Fontecchio has settled in. His wife has a social circle, his daughter is happy at school, and he feels like he has found a second family with his NBA team.

"I feel 10 times more comfortable," he said. "The guys know me now, I know them, so everything is just easy. … It's been fun for me. It's been nice. I'm surrounded by a lot of great guys, great people, and a staff that believes in me and works with me, and it's fun for me to work with them. So just in a good spot right now."

Fontecchio has come out of his shell this season. Kelly Olynyk described him as "comic relief," and Luka Samanic said he has a way of brightening up a locker room.

"You can just see it on his face every day. You can see the way he's interacting with everybody and the way he moves around," Hardy said. "There's a different confidence about Simo this year."

That is showing up on the court, too. He hit a key 3-pointer late in Monday's win, and expertly navigated screens to keep on Ingram's hip.

Hardy keeps tasking Fontecchio with more and more responsibilities, and he keeps rising to the task.

"I try to do this as simple stuff," Fontecchio said. "That gets me really focused — just play hard on defense, try to get as many rebounds as I can. I just focus on that, and all the rest comes easier."

At least as easy as getting a few bumps and bruises can be.

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