Derrick Favors reveals why he’s staying in Utah

In case you were wondering why Derrick Favors decided to stay in Utah, he went ahead and told everyone first-hand, straight from his own mouth. After the Jazz big man agreed to his two-year, $36 Million contract with Utah, he opened up about his life, his home, upbringing, and how Utah has become his place. In a very Player’s Tribune-esque manner, Favors posted a first-hand article stating the reason he decided to stay in Utah and stick around with this team.

No one can also ignore the way that Favors tweeted this out, with the exact same words that Gordon Hayward titled his PT piece a year ago. Hardly a coincidence. But forget that, Favors’ piece is incredibly thoughtful and inspiring. He talks about how his career has played out, getting traded to the Jazz, and shifting roles and responsibilities along the way. He states some of the reasons he decided to stay in Utah, with winning a championship as the headliner.

Last year was a little different for me personally. I had to sacrifice a lot. I had to sacrifice touches. I had to sacrifice shots, minutes, everything really. But I knew it was best for the team. I had to find a way to just make an impact. It was worth the sacrifice.

We won a lot of games, made it to the second round of the playoffs.

But now I want more.

I want to win a championship.

He also talked about how much he loves this Jazz team, probably as much as we do. He mentioned some of the coaches, players, and fans, and how much they all mean to him.

We’ve got a good core. Donovan surprised a lot of people. I don’t think anybody expected him to have the type of year he had. He’s a hard worker. He’s a hooper. You just get him the ball and tell him to go. Rudy … I was here when he couldn’t catch the ball two feet away from him. He’s improved a lot. He’s the Defensive Player of the Year. I’m proud of him. And I want to show people that we can play together, so you can just throw that question away. Joe is my guy. I love Joe. I don’t know what my life would be like without Joe Ingles. Everybody respects what he has to say, which is good because he’s always going to talk whether you like it or not. When you see him, you don’t think he’s going to be that good at basketball until he steps on the court. I’m glad I’m one of his teammates.

We’ve got a great coaching staff. Quin Snyder means a lot to me. He’s one of the best coaches in the NBA. I don’t think he gets enough credit. He does a wonderful job. Sometimes we do have three-hour practices, but I don’t complain about that. He’s a great coach to play for. He’s a player’s coach. He’s always thinking of ways to get each guy involved.

We’ve got great owners. The Millers, they’ll do whatever they’ve got to do to make sure we’re comfortable and we’ll win.

That’s why I’m staying in Utah.

The pull piece is available here, and it is definitely a must-read. The Jazz took a little heat for a relatively lucrative contract offer for Favors, but one cannot deny the impact he’s had on the Jazz during his time here. He’s a player the Jazz definitely want to keep around, and now without a doubt, we all know that feeling is mutual.