Utah Jazz Supports Wheelchair Basketball Team

Recently the Wheelin’ Jazz, Utah’s elite wheelchair basketball team, gave fans a closer look at a unique sport.  During halftime of the first Jazz preseason game this fall, the Wheelin’ Jazz participated in an on-court exhibition scrimmage against its younger counterparts, the Junior Wheelin’ Jazz.  Players sported jerseys previously donated by the Utah Jazz, and the scrimmage highlighted participants’ discipline and athleticism.

The Wheelin’ Jazz is a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA), which was founded in 1948 in response to interest from disabled World War II veterans in participatory sports.  Last season, the Wheelin’ Jazz ranked seventh in the NWBA Championship Division. 

The Junior Wheelin’ Jazz consists of players between the ages of 13 to 21, and is a member of the NWBA Junior Division.  The 2009-10 season marked the first time the team competed at the national level.  Preseason rankings place this year’s team in the top 25.