SALT LAKE CITY (Oct. 24, 2014) – The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has elected to exercise its third-year team options for guard Trey Burke and center Rudy Gobert. The options for both players are through the 2015-16 season. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.
Burke (6-1, 190, Michigan) is entering his second NBA season after averaging 12.8 points, a team-leading 5.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 70 games (68 starts) during his rookie campaign. He was named to the 2014 All-NBA Rookie First Team and finished third in 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year balloting. Burke was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month three times (December, January and April), becoming the first Jazz player to win multiple Rookie of the Month awards. He also registered 12 games with 20-plus points, and handed out 10 or more assists on seven occasions. Burke was also selected to the 2014 NBA Rising Stars Challenge and won the 2014 Skills Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.
The 22-year-old Gobert (7-1, 245, France) is also entering his second NBA season after appearing in 45 games (all as a reserve) for the Jazz in 2013-14 and averaged 2.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a rookie. He led Utah in rebounding on three occasions in his rookie campaign and was second on the team in blocks per game (0.9). Gobert was named to the 2014 All-NBA Summer League Second Team after averaging 11.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 23.8 minutes over four games in Las Vegas. He also won a bronze medal with the France Men’s Basketball Team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Both Burke (ninth overall) and Gobert (27th overall) were selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, and their rights were acquired by the Jazz in separate draft night trades.
The Jazz will tip off its 41st NBA campaign against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at EnergySolutions Arena at 7 p.m.