Heading into the NBA draft back in June, there might not have been a team more with more questions than the Utah Jazz.
Armed with three first round picks (No. 9, 16, 28), Utah faced a world of possibilities. That made the Jazz and GM Justin Zanik among the most intriguing people that night, with many wondering what Utah would do.
Turns out, Zanik did nothing — and he couldn't have been more thrilled.
"Really happy with how the draft played out," he said that night. "The draft took a really fortunate turn for us. … We're leaning into talent and getting many talented players on the roster. We need guys that have an upside and chance to grow with the right kind of development, with the right kind of hard work. … That's what we got tonight."
The Jazz took Taylor Hendricks (UCF) at No. 9, Keyonte George (Baylor) at No. 16, and Brice Sensabaugh (Ohio State) at No. 28.
"All three have good character. … All of these guys have things you can't teach," Zanik said. "All three of the guys can shoot. … They have different bodies, but all three have athleticism. We got two guys who were ranked in our top 10, and we were debating which one to take at No. 9. And then, at 28, we got a guy who was in our top 18."
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the three rookies since that night in June, as they've been dealing with various injuries that caused them to miss time on the court this summer.
But after months of rehab and living in the gym, they've been fully cleared for action and will be full go when Utah tips off training camp in Hawaii on Tuesday.
"They are extremely hard workers. … They've all been here basically all summer," Zanik said of the rookies during last Friday's press conference. "We've even tried to kick them out of the gym, but they keep coming back. They are what we thought about them as far as their character, their work ethic and let alone their talent. … I'm excited to have them start their journey."
While there will be expected growing pains throughout training camp, the rookies will have an incredible opportunity with their teammates. Trust in one another is crucial for success in the NBA, and it's the quickest way to get on the court during the regular season.
"I think there is a world where each of them could play themselves into minutes," head coach Will Hardy said. "It's about earning the trust of their teammates. … If their teammates think that they can help them win, they'll be all about it."
But how do the rookies earn the trust of their teammates and coaches?
"I'm just playing my role, not being too worried about how many minutes I play. … Just trying to help the team win," Hendricks said.
"Just counting to be unselfish and have an unselfish mind. … At some point, I'll be able to gain that trust and be able to lead this team in a way," George added.
Although training camp will provide ample opportunity to earn the trust of their teammates, they've already earned some recognition for how they've approached the summer.
"They go at it. ... They have not backed down one second out here playing with our veteran guys," Hardy said. "And so training camp is going to show us a lot, because it is a very different environment."