SALT LAKE CITY (October 31, 2014) – The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Alec Burks to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
“We have great regard for Alec’s work ethic and dynamic athletic ability as well as his growth potential,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey. “Alec is a young player with a unique skillset and true passion for basketball who consistently finds the gym and has displayed the characteristics and desire to continue to improve his game. He is a high-character individual who, throughout his time with the Jazz, has expressed his love for Salt Lake City and Jazz fans, so we are thrilled to know that he will be a core piece of our future as we continue to grow.
The 23-year-old Burks (6-6, 211, Colorado) is currently in his fourth NBA campaign and through the first two games of 2014-15 is averaging a team-high 16.5 points along with 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on .500 (11-22) shooting in 31.0 minutes.
“Alec’s character coupled with the willingness he has shown to grow both on and off the court embody what we are looking for in a Utah Jazz basketball player,” said Greg Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “We appreciate Alec’s commitment to this franchise and community, and are happy to announce his contract extension at this time.”
The Jazz’s second-leading scorer in 2013-14, Burks doubled his scoring average while also improving his rebounds, assists and steals averages as well as field goal and free throw percentage over the previous year. Burks played in 78 games (12 starts) last season, averaging career-highs of 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals and shooting .457 in 28.1 minutes per contest. Burks scored in double figures in 60 of 78 games, registering 20-plus points 15 times and 30-plus twice while leading or tying for the team lead in scoring on 14 occasions and in assists nine times.
Noted for his slashing ability and knack for getting to the line, Burks ranked second on the team in both free throws made and attempted in 2013-14 and was among the NBA’s league leaders in free throw attempts per minute. Meanwhile his 13.9 points per game off the bench ranked as the second-highest scoring average for a reserve in the NBA.
“I feel very blessed and want to thank the Miller family and Jazz organization for their belief in me and my abilities, and to have made this type of commitment to me,” said Burks. “Jazz fans have been very supportive of me since day one, and I am very happy to be able to continue my playing career in Utah, which has become like a second home to my family and me.”
A 2011 first-round pick (12th overall selection) by the Jazz, Burks has appeared in 203 career games (14 starts) over three-plus seasons and owns career averages of 9.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.3 minutes. The Grandview, Mo., native played two collegiate seasons at the University of Colorado, where he set the school’s freshman and sophomore scoring records and left ranking third on the Buffaloes’ career scoring average list (19.0 ppg).
An active member of the Salt Lake community, Burks participates in numerous Jazz community initiatives such as hospital visits and fitness clinics each year, and for the 2014-15 season has purchased a block of tickets for every Jazz home game, which are donated to local youth and non-profit organizations across the Wasatch Front.