Why I’m a fan of the Utah Jazz: The Shot

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“John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals!” Did you just get chills? Cause I just got the chills. This is one of the very first memories of my life, so I have literally been a Jazz fan as long as I can remember. While I probably don’t fully appreciate Jazz history like some of you, I’ve been hooked ever since Stockton hit The Shot. I was a long-time lurker here on the Dunk before finally joining back in 2013 and have never looked back.

I caught the tail end of the John Stockton/Karl Malone era and loved what I remember. I idolized John and Karl and have to give them a lot of credit as to why I love basketball. I can’t tell you how many drawings/papers I wrote about Stockton as a kid. You could often find me playing basketball and giving myself a play-by-play as if I were the man himself. I think I cried when I found out he was hanging it up.

The Deron Williams/Mehmet Okur/Andrei Kirilenko/Carlos Boozer era was a faster-than-expected rebuild. That was a fun team to watch, especially the Western Conference Finals appearance. I still can’t decide who would win in a 7 game series between the ‘10 Jazz and the ‘17 Jazz. While the ending of that core was unfortunate, and I wasn’t attached to all of those players (cough Boozer cough), I do have good memories of them.

The Tyrone Corbin era never happened. Life is easier this way.

This current Jazz team might be my most favorite. Watching this team grow up right before our eyes has been amazing. I bought a jersey for the first time in a long time, and had such a hard time deciding whose to get. (FWIW- I gambled and got Hayward’s. He made the All-Star team so it paid off so far. But if he leaves... *stares depressingly off into space and quivers*) I’ve never been so invested, for good and for bad, in a team before. I’m sure you all understand how your emotional state correlates directly with how the Jazz are playing. Let’s hope/pray/beg they keep the band together and add whatever necessary to take that next step. In Dennis Lindsey we trust!

On a more personal note, I was born and raised on a farm in a smaller community in northern Utah. I did my undergrad at Utah State and am currently in my 3rd year at the College of Pharmacy at University of Utah. Does this give me much time to be a Jazz fan? No. Does this keep me from reading/watching all things Jazz? Of course not. I’ve got 2 years left of school and look forward to that next stage in life. As big of a Jazz fan as I am, the most important things to me are my wife and 1 year old daughter.

I appreciate the opportunity to help contribute to the site we’ve all come to know and love here at SLCDunk. I hope we can continue providing the content that you hope for. That you want. That you need. This is our Utah Jazz after all.

Give me a follow @tavanparker if you so choose.

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