Spartan Nation Spoke with Goran Suton, the Newest Member of the Utah Jazz!

The Spartan Nation’s Goran Suton had a dream fulfilled on Thursday night when he was selected in the NBA draft. Suton was picked in the second round (#50

The Spartan Nation’s Goran Suton had a dream fulfilled on Thursday night when he was selected in the NBA draft. Suton was picked in the second round (#50 overall) by the Utah Jazz.

 

I spoke to him earlier tonight from Utah where he was conducting his press conference as the newest member of the Jazz. I asked Goran about a conversation he and I had back in 2006; a conversation that we have reflected on many times in the three years since. 

 

Tom Izzo had been tough on Goran and not unnecessarily. After practice I asked G about dealing with it and he told me, “On draft night when I hear my name called, it will all be worth it. He wants that for me and he knows how to get me there.” So, of course, I had to asked G about the moment his name was called, “It was unbelievable. I was on the phone with the Utah Jazz at the time and I heard my name called…my family went crazy.”

 

Suton has many memorable moments in his career at MSU and his relationship with Izzo is well documented. One relationship, however, that had significant impact on Goran and his being selected was former MSU top assistant and current Utah Ute head coach Jimmy Boylen. Boylen’s efforts working with bigs both in the NBA and in college is nationally respected and he was tough on Suton. In fact, Boylen saw the NBA potential long before Goran did.

 

I spoke to Boylen earlier tonight and we reflected on something he had told me back in 2006 also. It was just a short time before I had spoken to G for the above quote and Boylen told me, “Goran can play in the league. I know what it takes to get there and he can.” Does he have to improve his muscle mass or body? “Well sure, but the biggest muscle he has to bulk up is between his ears. He has to believe that he can make it.”

 

Boylen reflected warmly tonight when he told me, “Goran was so coachable. After I told you that (above quote) he really embraced it. He was so coachable. He was just receptive to getting better. You didn’t have to baby-sit him. You just told him and he wanted it. He had the potential and the skill set, but he willed himself to be more disciplined. I am so proud of him and proud that maybe I had a small part of it.”

 

Now that Goran joins Boylen in Utah and the same city for that, I asked Goran tonight who would buy dinner the first time the teacher and the pupil went to dinner? He made it clear that Coach Boylen would. I told Coach that and he said, “I probably will get stuck with that bill.”

 

One thing is certain. The Spartan Nation and Coach Izzo have a lot of pride in their newest contribution to the NBA, and Goran Suton is a great role model to all people. If you believe in something and work hard at it, dreams do still come true. Goran said it best, “It’s unbelievable.” Goran may need to learn the David Stern talking points, he was supposed to say: It’s FANtastic.

Here are some great SpartanNation.com video interviews with Goran Suton from the archives:

Here is Goran after the national championship loss to UNC:Â LINK

Here is Goran getting his jersey retired at the Breslin Center:Â LINK