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The Utah Jazz organization wins off the court, too

The Utah Jazz organization wins off the court, too

(Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz)


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Much like the look of their new uniforms, the Utah Jazz are on fire. Despite a rough start, the Jazz came back and closed the season with a sizzling 29-6 winning streak to earn the fifth seed in the Western Conference. With rookie point guard Donovan Mitchell breaking the record for the most 3-point field goals made by a rookie in NBA history and star center Rudy Gobert being hailed as one of the best defensive centers in the league, the Jazz are proving to be real competition and a lot of fun to watch.

But it isn’t just their comeback season that has people talking. What also sets the Utah Jazz apart from the rest of the NBA teams is how they care for their players and employees. The Salt Lake Chamber met with those inside the Jazz organization to learn what makes them winners on and off the court.

Welcome to the family

When new players come to the Utah Jazz, they’re not just joining the Jazz family, they’re joining the Miller family. And while all 30 NBA teams take care of their players and their families, in Utah the family values start right at the top of the Miller organization.

“Every franchise has their brand amongst players and teams, and our brand is that of a very family-oriented franchise,” said Linda Luchetti, vice president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz.

One of the first things the Jazz organization does when they draft or trade for a player is to get in touch with who is important to them. Whether it be their parents, significant other or friends, they want to know who is going to be spending the most time here in Utah.

Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz
Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz

“If they’re moving here, we ask if they need help finding a home, a school, medical care. We show them around what areas they might be interested in,” said Luchetti. “Our goal is to make the families as comfortable here as quickly as possible.”

Part of that comfort comes when the players are away practicing or playing on the road. To ensure the families are finding the support they need, the team holds bi-weekly activities to get the players’ families together. Whether it is a dinner, a suite during a concert or a birthday party complete with a puppet show for the kids, the Jazz organization does everything it can to support the families.

That goes for game nights as well. The family room at the Vivint Smart Home Arena allows moms to drop off their little ones so they can relax and watch the game uninterrupted. This kindness is extended even if the player and their families leave town to play for another team. Once back in Jazz territory, the players and their families are welcomed back into the fold. “Once a Jazz player, always a Jazz player,” said Luchetti.

Love where you work

Part of the mission statement of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies is to be, “…the best places in town to work.” Steve Starks, president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, explains that while this is an aspirational statement, the companies work to make that goal a reality. And if you were to walk into the newly renovated Zions Bank Basketball Campus, you may just say they met their objective.


“Environment is really important to the culture. We want this to be a really great place for people to work on and off of the court.”

While attention focused on the $125-million overhaul of the Vivint Smart Home Arena, the Jazz’s practice facility on Salt Lake City’s west side was undergoing a dramatic renovation of its own. The new facility has doubled in size. It now includes new workout equipment, training and recovery facilities as well as the franchise’s business enterprises, which include the Jazz’s marketing, corporate sponsorship and corporate ticketing operations.

The new state-of-the-art training facility is said to be one of the best in the league. But it isn’t just the players who love the new campus. Jazz employees get to take advantage of an employee gym, a fully stocked kitchen, a mother’s lounge, a flower garden and atrium where they can take a break from the workday.

“Environment is really important to the culture,” said Starks. “We want this to be a really great place for people to work on and off of the court.”

Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz
Photo courtesy of Utah Jazz

Valuing the most valuable assets

One important aspect of the company culture at the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies is employee recognition and appreciation. Every Monday at the Zions Bank Basketball Campus, they hold an all-employee huddle where each department highlights the celebrations and milestones of their team members. This isn’t just recognition from the top down, employees have a platform to recognize each other as well.

Through the “Fivers” program, the company gives every employee $20 a month to use to recognize their peers. In $5 increments, they can award their co-workers for exemplifying one of the LHM four key values — integrity, service, hard work and stewardship.

Employee appreciation also comes in the form of valuing employee’s opinions. Through employee engagement surveys the organization is able to learn what motivates their employees in order to better adapt their business practices.

“We want to make sure that we are consistently evolving as a business and a workplace,” said Starks.

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