3 Pleasant Surprises Early Into the Jazz’s 2023-24 NBA Season
Even with a 7-13 start to the NBA season, not all has been bad for the Utah Jazz. The success has not exactly shown up in the win column, but many players on the roster have shown some positive signs for both the short and long-term future of this franchise.
It’ll take a few adjustments on both sides of the floor, but there are some good pieces present on the Jazz, a few of which have been busy exceeding some of their initial expectations before the year. Whether it be from this team’s youth movement or veteran talent, there is some optimism to be had on both sides.
Here are three pleasant surprises the Jazz have had through the first quarter of their 2023-24 season:
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John Collins’s Three-Point Shooting
A large concern surrounding the Jazz’s acquisition of John Collins this past NBA offseason was his three-point consistency and efficiency. After dropping from a stellar 40% clip to a lackluster 29.2% rate during his 2022-23 season, many questioned if he could get his numbers back to a stable level with his next franchise.
Now, 20 games into the season, it seems Collins has turned back the clock to return to his best numbers. He’s shooting a career-best 40.5% from range, making 1.5 threes a night. His improvement has effectively made his lineup versatility that much stronger, as well as providing much more ideal spacing for Utah.
When next to an interior-focused player like Kessler, it’s crucial to have other complimentary frontcourt members who can stretch the floor. That’s exactly who Collins has shown he can be. So long as he can keep this pace up, he can be a great piece of this frontcourt for the foreseeable future.
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The Swift Emergence of Keyonte George
The consensus around Keyonte George entering the 2023-24 NBA season was extremely positive, with many expecting him to be a key cornerstone of this rebuild for years to come. However, the speed at which he’s putting things together is more encouraging than we once thought.
Through 20 games of the year, George is averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, accompanied by 2.2 turnovers a night and 34.7/31.1/78.0 splits. He also leads all rookies in total assists on the year, continuously showcasing his impressive ability to create and make plays in an offense.
Oftentimes, it’ll take NBA guards a few years to fully develop into contributing rotational players, but that may not be the case for Keyonte. Of course, his efficiency and defensive impact will be areas to work on as he moves forward in his career, but we’re already off to a fantastic start.
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Simone Fontecchio Stepping In For Lauri Markkanen
An unsung hero through the Jazz’s most recent stretch of games is the second-year Italian forward Simone Fontecchio. He’s started in place of the injured Lauri Markkanen for the past five games, and he’s put together some respectable numbers. He’s averaged 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
His efficiency has left more to be desired (37.0/31.6/87.5), but his ability to fill in as a serviceable wing scorer has been a welcome sight for Utah. If nothing else, his jump in production without Markkanen should provide a great opportunity to cement himself a place in their regular rotation.
As the team’s young forwards, Brice Sensabaugh and Taylor Hendricks, continue to develop, Fontecchio has proven to be a respectable plug-and-play option to step into the frontcourt for the time being.
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