1980s

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JP Chunga

Darrell Griffith could've been a Boston Celtic. He could've been a Kentucky Colonel (ABA). But instead, he's a Jazzman.

A champion at Louisville, Griffith can tell the story of how Utah became a winner. He was there for it. From cellar dweller to contender.

"I was extremely proud when we dropped the banner. I’ll never forget that day," Griffith recalled of the 1984 Utah Jazz. "...To see that team transform, and to be relevant was major for me. Especially being in this market, it made me go back to 1980. Okay, now we’re winning. This is what winning is about. This is the feeling you get when you win. That was one of the highlights of me being a Jazz was that year."

Catch Darrell Griffith on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

Roundball Roundup is presented by First Colony Mortgage, the official mortgage lender of the Utah Jazz.

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Roundball Roundup: Darrell Griffith's legacy with the Jazz

Frank Layden's eye for talent was not limited to the draft, though there were many successes (Karl Malone, John Stockton, Mark Eaton, and Thurl Bailey just to name a few). He scoured the country to find diamonds in the rough.

One trip brought him to Billings, Montana. He caught a CBA game that featured Rickey Green and Jeff Wilkins - two players who immediately caught his eye. Green became an NBA All-Star and Wilkins was a serviceable backup to Eaton.

Green was that diamond. He finished his career in Utah as the franchise's leader in steals and assists.

"I knew I could be in that league because over the summers I played in the summer league in Chicago. I’d play against all the guys - Maurice Cheeks," Green remembered of that time before the Jazz. "...So I would hold my own, and it was just a matter of getting with the right team - trying to navigate to the right place. I knew I belonged, it’s just how am I going to get there, you know?"

Rickey Green joined JP Chunga on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Rickey Green goes CBA to NBA All-Star

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PHOTOS | 80s Night

Ryan Kostecka

As the Jazz celebrate their 50th anniversary this season, it's a perfect time to reflect on a half-century of memories.&nbsp;

From beginning the organization in 1974 to moving to Salt Lake City in 1979, back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in the late 90s, and the ushering of a new era with Will Hardy just last year, Utah has emerged as one of the winningest franchises since its inception.&nbsp;

The Jazz have posted a .542 winning percentage through nearly 4,000 games, good enough for fourth all-time. They trail San Antonio (.601), Boston (.592), and the Los Angeles Lakers (.592). 

Here's a look back at the organization's time during the 1980s:

After moving to Salt Lake City to start the 1979 season, Utah's struggles from the previous decade continued. They were a team trying to decide which direction they were heading in, ultimately electing to do a rebuild of sorts. They placed star Pete Maravich on waivers as his knee injuries persisted, turning the team over to 23-year-old Adrian Dantley.&nbsp;

Dantley became the key catalyst for Utah's turnaround. He averaged 28.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game that season — and although Utah struggled to a 24-58 record, a sense of hope began to take shape.&nbsp;

The Jazz still struggled the next few seasons, never finishing with more than 30 wins — but there were signs that things were changing.&nbsp;

Darrell Griffith, who Utah selected No. 2 overall in the 1980 NBA draft, emerged as a rookie to make a formidable pairing with Dantley. He averaged 20.6 points per game in his first season, taking home Rookie of the Year honors.

General Manager Frank Layden took over early in the 1981-82 season, replacing Tom Nissalke. Layden took a much different approach to the game, known for his self-deprecating sense of humor that had a way of easing tensions when things got tough. Although the Jazz finished 25-57 and 30-52 during his first two seasons, there were signs of what was to come.&nbsp;

Utah had a run of bad luck with injuries during Layden's first two seasons, but he believed they had the pieces needed to contend. 

Dantley and Griffith made a star duo; Mark Eaton was drafted in 1982 and had the makings of a defensive stalwart at center. Jeff Wilkins was a solid rotational player, but a few pieces were still missing. The Jazz had a very good offseason in the summer of 1983, drafting Thurl Bailey with the No. 7 overall pick and adding talented offensive rebounder Rich Kelley.&nbsp;

With the pieces finally assembled, the 1983-84 season will always be among the most memorable in Jazz history.&nbsp;

Nicknamed the 'Team with Heart,' the Jazz secured their first postseason bid in team history that season. The Jazz finished 45-37 that year — their first winning season — and took home the Midwest Division crown. They took down the Nuggets 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs before falling 4-2 to the Suns in the conference semifinals.&nbsp;

It set the stage for 20 consecutive seasons of making the postseason, third all-time in league history.

Utah's franchise changed during the 1984 NBA draft when the Jazz selected a little-known point guard out of Gonzaga named John Stockton. While the pick was met with jeers from Jazz Nation, little did anyone know the sort of stamp Stockton would forever leave on the organization.&nbsp;

Utah regressed slightly during the 1984-85 season, finishing 41-41 and making the postseason again. Although they lost in the conference semifinals, Eaton emerged as one of the best shot blockers ever en route to being named the Defensive Player of the Year.&nbsp;

The Jazz added another critical piece in the 1985 draft, selecting Karl Malone with the No. 13 pick. While expectations were high that season, injuries derailed what could've been a special season as Griffith missed the year with a stress fracture, and Dantley missed the postseason.

Still, the potential was there. It was only a matter of time before things began taking shape in Salt Lake City. But that almost never came to fruition.&nbsp;

Larry H. Miller, who had purchased 50% of the organization in 1985, wanted to keep the team in Utah. However, the other owner, Sam Battistone, wanted to sell to a group that would've moved the franchise to Minnesota. Ultimately, Miller stepped in at the last minute and purchased the remaining 50% of the organization, ensuring their future in the Mountain West.&nbsp;

The 1986 season was one of transitions where the team was headed in two different directions.&nbsp;

Stockton and Malone appeared on a star's path, but the veterans were still in control. Layden made the bold move to trade Dantley to Detroit while Griffith became a six-man for the team. Utah persevered throughout the change, finishing 44-38 before losing to Golden State in the first round of the playoffs.&nbsp;

However, the significant changes came at the start of the 1987-88 season. Layden moved Stockton into the starting lineup, pairing him with Malone, which would later result in the greatest pick-and-roll combination in league history. Led by that dynamic duo, the Jazz finished 47-35 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to the Lakers.&nbsp;

Little did anyone know that the start of the 1988-89 season was when Utah would find its missing piece — although he'd been there all along.&nbsp;

Layden stepped down as head coach, returning to a full-time role in the front office. In his place stepped assistant coach Jerry Sloan, who would become one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. He was able to game plan around both Stockton and Malone’s strengths and they&nbsp; became All-Stars and made All-NBA that year.

Stockton led the league in assists, the first of nine consecutive seasons he would do so. Malone became unstoppable on offense, averaging 29.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Despite finishing as Midwest Division champions, Utah was bounced by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.&nbsp;

The Jazz responded the following year, setting a then-franchise record with 55 wins as they rolled through the regular season. They appeared poised to make noise in the playoffs but again struggled and fell in the first round.&nbsp;

That left the Jazz searching for answers. Would they just be a regular-season success story, or could they find a way to emerge as championship contenders?&nbsp;

SEASON RECORDS1980-81 | 28-541981-82 | 25-571982-83 | 30-521983-84 | 45-37 | Advanced to conference semifinals 1984-85 | 41-41 | Advanced to conference semifinals1985-86 | 42-40 | Lost in first round1986-87 | 44-38 | Lost in first round1987-88 | 47-35 | Advanced to conference semifinals1988-89 | 51-31 | Lost in first round1989-90 | 55-27 | Lost in first round

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Jazz Basketball Decade Series | 1980s

Before the Utah Jazz, the Utah Stars and college basketball took center stage. Salt Lake City hosted the 1979 NCAA Final between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But what established the franchise and kept it in Utah was the 1984 Jazz - the Team with Heart.

"We had really good players. We just needed to figure out who we were," Thurl Bailey said of that time. "And I think we developed an identity of toughness, an identity of putting ourselves in a position to win every night against better opponents on paper. So if you do that enough - if you have the right people at the helm then you’re gonna put yourself in the position to win games that people would never thought you would. So that year really is - I think - a pivotal year of what started the winning foundation of this franchise."

JP Chunga examined the early years in Utah in this edition of The Note: The History of the Utah Jazz.

Catch The Note on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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The Note: Moving to Utah and the Team with Heart

When Quincy Lewis was hired by the Utah Jazz as Director of Alumni Relations just over a year ago, he had one clear message above all the others.&nbsp;

"You're always welcome back. … That's one of the things, in this position, that I really want people to know," Lewis said back in October 2022. "If you played for the Jazz, you're welcome back. … If you want to come back and see your legacy, that's my job to make sure you can find it. I always say that I love to help. … That's the most exciting part for me, to give people an opportunity to come back."

As the organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, Lewis has been hard at work behind the scenes. He's been strengthening relationships, helping orchestrate interviews with former Jazz legends (both from Utah and New Orleans), and arranging their visits to Salt Lake City to be honored during one of the team's decades night celebrations.

All his hard work is coming to fruition as Utah welcomed back three legends from the 1980s: Jeff Wilkins, Rickey Green, and Darrell Griffith. All three took part in a special media day at Utah's practice facility on Tuesday afternoon, reflecting on their time in the Mountain West.&nbsp;

“I wasn’t used to having that loser mentality, so I couldn’t wait to get out of Utah. … As soon as the season was over, I was out,” Griffith said of his early years with the team. “But then we picked up some key pieces and Frank had a good vision, had a good plan. I would say that that one particular person that changed the trajectory was Frank (Layden). We all just bought in. … That’s what changed a lot for us.”

Members of Utah's fabled 1983-84 'Team with Heart,' they helped the Jazz secure their first postseason bid in team history that season. The Jazz finished 45-37 that year — their first winning season — and took home the Midwest Division crown. They took down the Nuggets 3-2 in the first round of the playoffs before falling 4-2 to the Suns in the conference semifinals.&nbsp;

“I tell everybody, that was my funnest year in sports,” Griffith said of that season. “There never was a dull moment. Winning was a big part, but it was more than that.”

It was a special time to be in Utah, with the franchise turning the corner after a decade of struggles as an expansion organization.

“We were losing, but man that place (Salt Palace) was full every night,” Wilkins said. “The people were rabid, like they were serious fans. We’d lose and the fans would come up and say, ‘Don’t worry, we got it next game.’”

While all three will be honored during Wednesday's game against the Knicks as Utah celebrates its teams from the 1980s, returning to Salt Lake City has brought on its own set of emotions. It's allowed them to reflect on how special a time it was in their professional careers and see how cherished and beloved they still are by Jazz Nation.

“All of the different personalities, man it was so fun,” Wilkins said. “I mean, we had some characters on that squad and we just had some fun times. We just got along, we had good times, and that was the end of the story.”

“To me, it’s just good seeing the guys I haven’t seen in a long time. … Actually getting to see them face-to-face has been good,” Green added.&nbsp;

What helped make Tuesday special was that while they each had their own specific memories they cherished above others, that season in 1983-84 was what bonded them. They will always go down as the team that set the stage for an extremely bright future, giving hope to a fanbase searching for a winner.

“We changed the whole concept of winning that year,” Green said. “You raise the banner. … It was just great to see, and to get back to winning ways.”

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"Just Bought In" — Utah Welcomed Back Wilkins, Green, and Griffith Ahead of 1980s Decade Night Celebration

As the Utah Jazz celebrate their 50th anniversary this season, it’s a great time to reflect on the long and proud history of the nine coaches who’ve been the leading man of the Jazz.&nbsp;

From Scotty Robertson in 1974 to Will Hardy in 2022, the Jazz have been blessed with some of the greatest coaches in league history throughout their rich history. Read below for a look back at each coach, and see how the Jazz got to this point in history.&nbsp;

3.) Tom Nissalke | 1979-81With a coaching career that spanned nearly 40 years, Nissalke was the third coach in Utah history.&nbsp;

He has one of the rarest distinctions in basketball coaching history, having been named 'Coach of the Year' in both the ABA and NBA. Throughout his career, Nissalke was head coach of seven NBA/ABA teams and an assistant for three teams, winning an NBA title as an assistant with Milwaukee in 1971.&nbsp;

Before he broke into the professional ranks, Nissalke made a name for himself as head coach of Wayland Academy in Wisconsin. He moved up to the college ranks at the University of Wisconsin and Tulane as an assistant before jumping to the pro ranks with the Bucks. From there, he bounced around multiple professional leagues, including the ABA and NBA.&nbsp;

His coaching credentials also include the Olympics, where he served as head coach of the Puerto Rico national team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. They finished 2-5 in the tournament, nearly pulling off a massive upset of the United States when they fell 94-93.&nbsp;

Nissalke passed away on August 22, 2019, at his home in Salt Lake City.

ACCOLADES- NBA Champion (1971)- ABA Coach of the Year (1972)- NBA Coach of the Year (1977)

CAREER: 371-508 | .422 winning percentage

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50th Season | History Of Jazz Coaches: Tom Nissalke

5.) Frank Layden | 1981-88Known for his lighthearted approach to the game, Layden became one of the most famous coaches in Jazz history due to his ability to connect with his players, fans and his community.&nbsp;

He started coaching at his alma mater, Niagara University in New York. After helping lead the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1970, Layden jumped to the NBA when he served as an assistant with Atlanta in 1976.&nbsp;

However, his career took a turn when he was named the New Orleans Jazz general manager in 1979, helping move the team to Salt Lake City. Rather than staying in a front-office role, Layden double-dipped and was named the head coach of the Jazz in 1981. He helped lead a resurgent turnaround by the franchise, helping draft John Stockton and Karl Malone and hiring Jerry Sloan to be his assistant.&nbsp;

After retiring from coaching in 1988, Layden made one more run as a head coach in Utah. A decade later, Layden was named the head coach of the WNBA's Utah Starzz where he coached from 1998-99.

He still resides in Salt Lake City with his wife, Barbara.

ACCOLADES- NBA Coach of the Year (1984)- NBA All-Star Game Head Coach (1984)- J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1984)- Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)- No. 1 retired by the Jazz- NBA Executive of the Year (1984)

COACHING RECORDNBA- Utah Jazz | 277-294WNBA&nbsp;- Utah Starzz | 4-11

CAREER: 281-305 | .476 winning percentage

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50th Season | History Of Jazz Coaches: Frank Layden

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