I was an English major in college, and people usually asked me the same questions when they found out. The question on their faces was “How on earth are you going to make any money after you graduate?” The one they asked was “What are you going to do with that?” That’s how the conversations went, and with very little variation. No matter who I talked to, if the person asked what I was studying I could guess what I was in for.
Every time the Utah Jazz are playing badly or the trade deadline is approaching, Derrick Favors is faced with similar monotonous questions. Even if he isn’t asked directly, the questions loom in headlines, in blog posts, and in tweets: “Will Derrick Favors be traded?” “Where will Derrick Favors be traded?” “Is Favors happy in Utah?” “What assets could the Jazz get for Derrick Favors?” It happens every season, and it has to be tiresome for him.
He’s certainly not unappreciated, but he is most definitely underappreciated. This season, Favors is averaging about 11 points, 7 rebounds, and one block per game. He has played in 41 games, and quietly puts in work night in, night out. Derrick Favors is a consummate professional, and has been a rock for the Jazz throughout his career here. It’s easy to forget that, but last night something happened that helps Jazz fans everywhere remember:
| Fav moved into #4 on our all-time rebounds list tonight!
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 12, 2019
15p | 13r | 1a | 1b pic.twitter.com/TfXdEWSMhB
He’s not flashy. He’s not pretentious. He just works. Derrick Favors is one of the unsung heroes of the Jazz, and it’s nice to see him get a little recognition.