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It only took a month and eleven days into the regular season for Dennis Lindsey to stir things up. The Jazz made a trade to bring Kyle Korver back to Utah, and Alec Burks came as the cost.
Burks, who had spent his entire career as a Jazz man prior to being traded, was drafted by Utah with the 12th pick in the NBA draft. He appeared in 382 games for the Jazz, including 13 playoff games. He averaged just under 10 points a game during his time here, shooting 42 percent field goals and 35 percent from three.He scored a career-high 34 points in his third season with the Jazz, which came against the Denver Nuggets on 1/13/14.
AB was known for his ability to get buckets. Whether it was in the starting lineup, off the bench, playing 30 minutes, or 10, Burks was a flash of offensive prowess. His most notorious play came a few years back, which I’m sure everyone remembers.
He was also well-known for his “houdini” reverse layups and fancy finishing ability at the rim, his incredible swagger, and that awesome smile.
Jazz players took to twitter to bid their farewells to AB, as the news broke just a few hours prior to tipoff of their matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, not giving them ample time for goodbyes.
Good luck to my brother @AlecBurks10 in this new adventure. It’s been a fun ride ✊ . pic.twitter.com/BmA6XNv1ZQ
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) November 29, 2018
One of the best teammates I’ve had, he had some bad luck & never stopped working to get back to who we all knew him for. Everyday was upbeat & positive. We will all miss you round here, wish you nothing but the best @AlecBurks10! #bigfax
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) November 29, 2018
It’s been great playing with you my guy @AlecBurks10 great teammate but more importantly and great dude man! Loved playing with you for the past year! Good luck to you my brotha! Just not against us
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) November 29, 2018
I wish all the best to my guy @AlecBurks10 He has been through some tough times but always worked hard and stayed positive. It’s been great playing with you bro. pic.twitter.com/MX1cCMQJGO
— Raul Togni Neto (@RaulTogni) November 29, 2018
Real ones are hard to come by & Mr. Motivation is as real as can be! Much Love, AB & Good Luck in CLE! @AlecBurks10 #WalkingBucket pic.twitter.com/mFNs101P9I
— Nazareth Mitrou-Long (@NazzyJML) November 29, 2018
Also, shoutout to Derrick Favors who posted no words in his tweet, simply the link to AB’s infamous dunk years ago.
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) November 29, 2018
Good luck with everything AB, you will be missed.
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Now that we’ve all said our goodbyes to Alec Burks, we can now say our hellos (again) to the newest Jazz man Kyle Korver. Welcome back Kyle!! When word first broke that Korver was returning to Utah, I was pretty stoked. The highlight of my Jazz fandom came from those powder blue D-Will/Boozer days, which Korver became part of via trade in 2007. Korver played three seasons in Utah from 2007-10, and was a great weapon coming off the bench for the Jazz during that time.
Korver arrives back in Utah from his stints in Chicago, Atlanta, and Cleveland, where he did what he does shooting the ball from three. This season Korver is shooting 25-54 from three (46 %) and he immediately becomes the best three-point shooter statistically on this Jazz roster. Korver will definitely add some great value to this Jazz team, especially given their struggles shooting the ball from three this season. He’s on the second year of this three-year, $22 Million deal, and will turn 38 this coming March, surpassing Thabo Sefolosha as the oldest member on the team.
When asked about the trade, Mitchell mentioned he was excited to learn from Korver and pick up some of his shooting mechanic tricks.
Donovan Mitchell on the trade: "I was surprised, AB’s my guy. He’s a really funny dude, he’s always giving off a positive vibe. I wish him the best in Cleveland, I know he’s going to excel & do well... I’m excited to work with Kyle, I’ve always admired his shooting and mechanics"
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) November 29, 2018
It’s always exciting getting new members to the squad, especially when it’s someone that has played here before. Here’s to many more threes from KK.
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Donovan Mitchell returned from his rib contusion last night in Brooklyn, and oh did the Jazz need him. Mitchell dropped 29 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals in a W against the Nets, including 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. Last night Mitchell played like we all thought he would coming into this season. He’s so good when he gets in rhythm and is virtually unstoppable when he gets going.
Mitchell not only dominated this game, but he did so in front of a large crowd of friends and family that came out to see him play in his home town.
Donovan Mitchell, an Elmsford, New York, native, drew quite a crowd of family and friends plus New York Mets players Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Zack Wheeler for the Jazz win. “Just being back home is a different level of comfort for sure,” Mitchell said. https://t.co/TwMpLvFE7W
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) November 29, 2018
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Mitchell also grabbed this INSANE rebound, which had me in awe as I watched in live.
Poor innocent Joe Harris thought he could out-jump Donovan Mitchell. He chose poorly. pic.twitter.com/EVNiRp3Exe
— Luka Wobčić (@WorldWideWob) November 29, 2018
Mitchell does these crazy types of things on a fairly regular basis, which is just insane. Glad he’s on my team.
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Remember #TakeNote? Guess who endorsed it? Donovan Mitchell himself, in the best way possible. When someone on Twitter claimed (jokingly? idk) that Mitchell’s father wanted him in a Brooklyn jersey, Donovan shot it down immediately and flexed the #TakeNote hashtag that was switched out by the Jazz social team before this season.
Nah fam #TakeNote https://t.co/BDyseZO9Mt
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) November 29, 2018
One of my favorite tweets to date, for sure. Mitchell’s loyalty is one of my favorite things about him, as well as the fact that he flexed the #TakeNote slogan. (which is clearly better than #TeamIsEverything, smh)