#1 - 15 best players post Stockton/Malone

babyjax13 · Post #1 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 3:50 am

Exactly what this says, thought this might be fun considering how un-fun this team has been the last several weeks. Let me know if I miss someone obvious. Some players will overlap with Stockton and Malone, but the criteria is simply that they spent a majority of their careers outside that context. In the offseason maybe we can do another series based on the best Jazz players ever, which we have done before.

Please nominate the next player to go on the list, and let me know if they should replace someone already on it!

Catchall · Post #2 » by **Catchall** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 5:27 am

I gave DWill the nod. All Star and Team USA guy who could run a team. Mitchell should pass him, but I can't say that he has yet.

babyjax13 · Post #3 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 5:33 am

I also went Deron. I love what Rudy has done for us defensively, but for a few years Deron was a top 10 player in the league, and I think Rudy has just been on the fringes of that conversation. I also think it would be easier to build a contender in this era around Deron than it would around Rudy. That said, it was a really hard choice. I could also imagine Mitchell surpassing both, but he has not yet for me.

Post #4 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 7:27 am

Deron for me. He was awesome when we had him. Injuries and a strained relationship lead to an early end to the relationship, but the guy was a legit star you can build a championship-level team around.

Post #5 » by **FJS** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 8:24 am

Deron. A shame he was not with us his whole carreer

red4hf · Post #6 » by **red4hf** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 2:39 pm

Great thread idea...... AK-47 for me....... Can you imagine AK playing now?

TNJazz · Post #7 » by **TNJazz** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 4:11 pm

I also chose AK-47, besides having the absolute best nickname ever, he was an absolute jack of all trades and master of most. more 5X5's, one one rarest stats in the NBA, than any player ever. Following up red4hf, AK in today's NBA would be lights out on both ends of the court. I think he was the precursor to the Greek Freak. Able to make huge impacts on both ends of the court and make his teammates better.

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 4:36 pm

Did not expect the AK love, makes me happy because he is my favorite Jazz player ever : )

babyjax13 · Post #9 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 4:41 pm

Also, who should we add next as a nominee? I was thinking Harpring.

zero24gravity · Post #10 » by **zero24gravity** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 5:09 pm

Rudy
DM
Deron
AK

The top3 are all close, IMO, but I give the nod to Gobert. The analytics and the eye test just don't lie. If his D-impact was directly translated to scoring & other more sexy stats, he's an MVP. (P.S., his offensive impact is also elite, just not in the traditional ways.) As presently constructed, the Jazz simply can't get by without Gobert.

DM & Deron are similar in their impacts & roles during their respective time with the team. I think Deron, at his height, might have been a bit "better", but that window was so short, that I give Mitchell the edge for #2.

....but I still LOVE Kirilenko, and think in today's game, he would be the answer to Giannis. Such a unique player, defensively the PERFECT modern day "big". Would likely be playing SF, PF & C. Just enough shooting to be effective as someone that can't be left open from outside, as well. Man, I miss watching him. Sometimes when I get frustrated with the Jazz, I watch sections of games in x2 fast forward... but when AK was on the floor, I'd always go back to real time for DEFENSIVE possessions. The ultimate disruptor & help-side shot blocker. The fact that Hornacek's # is retired, and not AK, is crazy to me.

5th, as much as it turns my stomach to say it .... likely Haywood, but a distant 5th.

(Boozer was horrible on D, to the point I felt he was usually a zero impact player, who gave up as much as he added.)

zero24gravity · Post #11 » by **zero24gravity** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 5:13 pm

My 2 cents about who is on he list .... Millsap over Bogey & Jefferson. I think I'd go Favors & Ingles over Bogey, as well.

red4hf · Post #12 » by **red4hf** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 5:47 pm

Favors should also be in over both Jefferson and Conley.......

babyjax13 · Post #13 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 6:39 pm

Millsap and Favors are good calls. I will add Favors and replace Bogey with Millsap in the next iteration. Can't believe I missed Paul, but I knew I would miss someone!

CAE15 · Post #14 » by **CAE15** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 11:01 pm

While Deron and AK were great players for us and Deron even had claim to the best point guard for a season or two. Rudy Gobert has transformed the Jazz since really becoming a starter. No one impacts the game like he has for us. He arguably should be a 5 time all star at least and if we're being honest should have another DPOY. I love AK (I really wish we'd retire his number) and Deron was a stud. But Gobert is what the Jazz do, he single handedly made us a good defense for years.

babyjax13 · Post #15 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Apr 6, 2022 11:40 pm

Three way tie, will let it run another day : )

red4hf · Post #16 » by **red4hf** » Thu Apr 7, 2022 12:23 am

CAE15 wrote:While Deron and AK were great players for us and Deron even had claim to the best point guard for a season or two. Rudy Gobert has transformed the Jazz since really becoming a starter. No one impacts the game like he has for us. He arguably should be a 5 time all star at least and if we're being honest should have another DPOY. I love AK (I really wish we'd retire his number) and Deron was a stud. But Gobert is what the Jazz do, he single handedly made us a good defense for years.

AK was Gobert before there was a Gobert..... AK was Utah's defense every year...... He guarded every position......

And he carried a bunch of G-leaguers to 41 wins...... Still one of the most incredible achievements..

CAE15 · Post #17 » by **CAE15** » Thu Apr 7, 2022 3:53 am

red4hf wrote:
CAE15 wrote:While Deron and AK were great players for us and Deron even had claim to the best point guard for a season or two. Rudy Gobert has transformed the Jazz since really becoming a starter. No one impacts the game like he has for us. He arguably should be a 5 time all star at least and if we're being honest should have another DPOY. I love AK (I really wish we'd retire his number) and Deron was a stud. But Gobert is what the Jazz do, he single handedly made us a good defense for years.

AK was Gobert before there was a Gobert..... AK was Utah's defense every year...... He guarded every position......

And he carried a bunch of G-leaguers to 41 wins...... Still one of the most incredible achievements..

Absolutely AK was incredible at his peak. His peak didn't last as long and while he was a very good defender he wasn't what Gobert is, he was incredible as a weak side defender but again he isn't on Gobert's level as impact and I absolutely love AK!

babyjax13 · Post #18 » by **babyjax13** » Thu Apr 7, 2022 2:23 pm

We need a tie breaker, who are people's second choices? Mine is Gobert, I just don't think AK belongs in this conversation as much as I love him. I do think he belongs in the conversation for ... fourth.

Post #19 » by **Inigo Montoya** » Thu Apr 7, 2022 2:41 pm

AK47 for me. Can't ignore him leading that team to 41 wins, among other things. Put Gobert on that roster instead of AK and that team would be worse.

zero24gravity · Post #20 » by **zero24gravity** » Thu Apr 7, 2022 3:30 pm

babyjax13 wrote:We need a tie breaker, who are people's second choices? Mine is Gobert, I just don't think AK belongs in this conversation as much as I love him. I do think he belongs in the conversation for ... fourth.

Per my post earlier, I think DM is 2nd (which doesn't help with your tie-breaker issue). Nobody here is going to put Gobert as 4th (and maybe not even 3rd), whereas some of us have already stated AK (whom I love!) is 4th. Not just trying to make an argument for who I voted for (Rudy), but in a system where you ask people to rank the top 4 guys, it seems clear Rudy would only be getting 1st & 2nd place votes, and the other guys would be ranked all over the place. Point being, if you don't get a tie-breaker vote, Rudy seems to be the most consistent top 2 guy, so should be given the edge.

Who is the best Jazz player of this group?