Detroit Pistons

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Ryan Kostecka

Announced on Thursday morning — and hours before the completion of the 2024 NBA trade deadline — Utah engaged in a trade with Detroit that featured three players and draft compensation.&nbsp;

— Draft rights to Gabriele Procida (36th overall pick in 2022)

Here are five things to know about Utah's newest member, Knox II.

High school careers don't get much better than what Knox did at Tampa Catholic High School in Tampa, Florida. Although it never ended with a state title in the extremely difficult world of Florida high school hoops, Knox is one of the best players from the state in the past decade.&nbsp;

He averaged 30.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game as a junior as his team took home regional and district championships before bowing in the state semifinals. His numbers remained the same as a senior — 28.5 points, 11.3 rebounds — while also playing in the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic. 

Despite thriving in high school, Knox proved his best against the nation's best during the summer between his junior and senior years. He averaged 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for E1T1 as they played in the EYBL (Nike Elite Youth Basketball League), widely considered the top youth basketball league for the summer. 

Knox chose blueblood Kentucky over other suitors, including Duke, Missouri, North Carolina, and local school Florida State. Knox joined future (and still) NBA players P.J. Washington, Nick Richards, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to create one of the best recruiting classes in Wildcat history with eyes on a national championship.&nbsp;

Though Kentucky finished 10-8 in SEC play, the star power rose to the top when it mattered most. The Wildcats caught fire at the right time, running through the SEC tournament and taking down Tennessee in the title game — Knox finished with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Kentucky advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament before falling to in-state rival Kansas State. Knox capped his college career by being named to the SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC teams. He was also named to the SEC Tournament Team, joining current Jazz teammate Collin Sexton (Alabama).

Being chosen ninth overall by the Knicks, Knox went to New York with high aspirations — both by himself, the fans, and the organization. He displayed star potential in high school and was considered the next star for an organization searching for one.&nbsp;

Knox performed well  his rookie season, averaging career-highs of 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He played in 75 games, starting 57, while shooting 34.3% from three. He took home the NBA's Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month award for December, averaging 17.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 38.4% from deep. He followed that up with a career-high 31 points on January 13, 2019, against Philadelphia. 

Although the rest of his time in New York didn't go as planned, Knox was traded to Atlanta on January 13, 2022. He joined the Hawks as they made a push to the postseason, getting matched up with Miami in the opening round. Knox averaged 11 points in two games as the Hawks fell in five, but he gained valuable postseason experience for the second time in two seasons.&nbsp;

He signed with Detroit in August 2022 as a free agent, becoming a rotation player instantly. He dropped a season-high 21 points and a career-high six threes in Detroit's 125-116 victory over Utah on Nov. 23.  

Knox was then dealt to Portland as part of a four-team trade with Atlanta and Golden State just hours before the trade deadline expired last season. After resigning and then being waived by the Trail Blazers in October 2023, Knox returned to Detroit on a one-year contract.

To say Knox grew up in an athletic and competitive family might be an understatement. His dad is Kevin Knox, a national championship-winning wide receiver at Florida State who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL draft. He later played one season for the Arizona Cardinals.&nbsp;

Kevin also has two younger brothers, one playing in college and the other a big-time high school recruit. Kobe, the middle brother, plays for the University of South Florida, averaging 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game as a 6-foot-5 guard. Karter is currently rated a 5-star small forward for Overtime Elite.

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5 Things to Know About Utah's Newest Forward: Kevin Knox II

It doesn't matter if it's ugly or pretty; Will Hardy has stated multiple times that it's hard to win in the NBA.A win is a win, and you'll take them any way you can get them.

Thanks to some late-game heroics by Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen, the Jazz stormed back from a double-digit second-half deficit to end their three-game homestand with a 154-148 overtime victory over Detroit.&nbsp;

"Obviously, an exciting, hard-fought game," Hardy said. "As a coach, you'd rather learn lessons after a win than a loss. The team stuck with it. … We didn't lose our heads and continued to play. This is a part of learning how to win and how to become a really good team."

"We're trying to become a really good team that wins consistently, and with that comes situational basketball and winning close games."

Here are five things to know following the win.

1.) What. A. Finish.The final 30 seconds of regulation featured some impressive shotmaking by Clarkson, Markkanen, and former Jazzmen Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. 

With the game tied, Clarkson appeared to clinch the victory when he drilled a three off a broken play to put the Jazz up. Bogdanovic answered on the other end, corralling a Walker Kessler block before knocking down a game-tying three with 15 seconds to play. Markkanen appeared to hit the dagger on the following possession, knocking down a three with 5.0 seconds to play. Not to be outdone, Burks hit a game-tying turnaround three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.&nbsp;

The final five minutes featured much less drama as Utah jumped out to a seven-point lead with 1:44 remaining, following another Clarkson three. The Pistons would cut the deficit to three with 7.1 seconds left, but the Jazz closed the game by going 3-for-3 from the free throw line.&nbsp;

"The end of regulation was another lesson to be learned," Hardy said. "It's a moment where the emotion is super high, and it's easy to lose focus on the strategy part. We would've liked to foul when Burks crossed midcourt, but we shouldn't have let him get that shot off."

"The thing I was most impressed with was they all came back to the bench and were able to refocus and pay a good overtime, which isn't easy. … This is a part of learning how to win and how to become a really good team."

2.) Franchise RecordWednesday's offensive showcase will go down in the record books as the 154 points scored by the Jazz tied their all-time record for most points in a game. It also set a new franchise record for the most points scored in a home game. The 302 combined points is also a franchise record. 

Utah last put up 154 points on April 28, 2021, in their 154-105 victory over the Kings in Sacramento. Ironically, Bogdanovic was the game's leading scorer when he dropped 24 points for the Jazz, while Clarkson came off the bench to finish with 23.

Wednesday was the first game in NBA history to have one team tie a franchise record for points in a win and have the opponent tie a franchise record for points in a loss.

3.) 30+ for TwoTwo nights after breaking Utah's triple-double curse in thrilling fashion, Clarkson was again the hero the Jazz needed. 

Facing a Pistons squad that refused to go away, Clarkson came up clutch when he scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. He finished the night with 36 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Markkanen was just as special on the night, finishing with 31 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from three.&nbsp;

Apart from the big three late in regulation, he knocked down all three of his free throws in overtime. But his biggest play came with 30 seconds left in overtime when he blocked Burks' three-point attempt, pressuring Utah's five-point lead.&nbsp;

4.) Sensational SimoWith Utah battling all game long and unable to pull even with the Pistons, Simone Fontecchio answered the call late in the third quarter. 

Trailing by five with 5:34 left in the third, Fontecchio sparked an 8-0 run by scoring or assisting on all eight points. He grabbed an offensive rebound and got the and-one, before knocking down a three on the following possession. He then got a steal on the other end before throwing a perfectly placed jump pass to a streaking Keyonte George for a breakaway dunk.&nbsp;

Although the Pistons would retake the lead shortly, that run sparked the crowd as the Jazz found the momentum necessary to make a push over the final 12 minutes. Fontecchio finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 

"Simo is becoming a really solid two-way player," Hardy said. "I think his reputation when he came to the NBA was that he was a skilled offensive player. But what's stood out to us and has continued to stand out is his athleticism . ... He's able to make plays on the ball defensively."

5.) George is SuccessfulIt's become one of the most important jobs in the NBA, yet goes highly unnoticed: The assistant coach who reviews plays and tells the head coach whether or not they should challenge the call. 

The Jazz have one of the best in the league in George Rodman, Utah's VP of Analytics & Game Strategy. He picked up his ninth successful challenge in his last 10 tries during the first quarter on Wednesday.

With 4:21 left in the first quarter, Kessler appeared to pick up his third block of the game — but the officials had other ideas. Kessler was whistled for a foul on Jalen Duran, sending the Detroit big man to the free throw line.&nbsp;

Immediately after the whistle, Kessler looked at his head coach and implored him to challenge the call, claiming the block was clean. Hardy looked to the second row of his bench, right at George Rodman, Utah's VP of Analytics & Game Strategy.

Within seconds, Rodman gave Hardy the thumbs up, and Hardy called a timeout to challenge the call. It may have taken a minute or two, but it was announced that the challenge was successful, giving Kessler his third block.&nbsp;

"George is annoying but he deserves some love. ... He doesn't let me yell at the ref as much as I want," Hardy joked postgame. "He studies it really hard. ... He watches every challenge from around the league. He's trying to figure out what needs to be overturned. ... He knows the rule book better than anybody on our team."

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"Winning Close Games" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over Detroit

Jeremy Rincon

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Highlights: Lauri Markkanen – 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 3PM

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Highlights: Pistons 148 | Jazz 154 (OT)

Before the game, head coach Will Hardy had something to ask of his players. He knew Utah would be severely shorthanded on the night and playing the second of a back-to-back on the road, so his message was simple.&nbsp;

“I need a little bit more from everyone tonight.”

The Jazz answered the call. Six players scored in double figures as Utah used a late run to pull away from the Pistons and pick up the 119-111 victory. With the win, the Jazz have won four of six and are expected to get back some of their guys for Saturday’s showdown in Toronto.

“Really good team win. … A hard game to play on the second end of a back-to-back on the road with a bunch of guys out,” Hardy said. “Our groups, as always, was super together. We absorbed some tough moments, but I thought the way the team approached it as a group was really good. … I’m happy for our team to get this win.”

1.) Late RunWith Olynyk admitting that losing to Detroit — potentially being the team that allowed them to break their 24-game losing streak — was in the back of Utah’s minds. The Jazz were more focused on righting the wrong following Wednesday’s loss in Cleveland. 

Clinging to a two-point lead with just under four minutes to go and Detroit holding the momentum, the Jazz needed to respond.&nbsp;

John Collins scored four straight as Utah rattled off an 11-2 run over the next 2:30 to pull away for the win. Olynyk knocked down a big three, while Collin Sexton (19 points, eight assists) scored the final four points in the run.&nbsp;

“For us, we got a lot of young guys who play with a lot of energy,” Olynyk said postgame. “For me, it’s about helping them and putting them in positions to succeed. … I’m just trying to make my teammates better, and they responded.”

2.) KO ReturnsSince the start of last season, Hardy has been clamoring for Kelly Olynyk to shoot the ball more. After shooting 39.4% from three last year and 41.1% this season, Hardy has told Olynyk that he wants the big man to launch it more, even if that goes against his normal intuition. 

“I think I wouldn’t be the only person that’s ever coached Kelly that would say there are moments where you wish he would shoot more,” Hardy said. “He’s a very good shooter, but his nature is to move the ball and to get his teammates involved.”

With four of Utah’s rotation players out — including leading scorers Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson — Olynyk had to take a more aggressive mindset on offense. He understood the assignment, scoring a season-high 27 points on 10-of-16 from the floor and 3-of-6 from three.&nbsp;

He also added six assists, four steals, and three rebounds, playing one of his best games of the season when the Jazz needed him most.&nbsp;

“I knew we had a bunch of guys out and were going to need some offensive punch,” Olynyk said. “I tried to be aggressive from the start. It’s a different role on this team. … It’s a fluid role, and I try to be whatever the team needs.”

3.) OH MY, OCHAIOn a night when Utah’s rotation was trimmed to nine guys, including two guys who have a combined nine minutes over the past two games, it was apparent that someone needed to step up. 

While multiple players rose to the occasion, Ochai Agbaji was the spark off the bench.&nbsp;

Apart from his three highlight-reel dunks, Agbaji found his rhythm from beyond the arc as he knocked down a pair of three-pointers. But the aggressiveness and physicality he drove to the rim allowed him to succeed on offense. That has been a point of emphasis this season for him, and he put it all together on Thursday.&nbsp;

4.) Turnover BattleOne of the biggest takeaways from the opening third of the season was Utah’s struggles regarding turnovers. They’re last in the NBA with 17.0 per game, which Hardy admitted has sometimes kept him up at night. 

However, on Thursday night, Utah was much better at taking care of the ball.&nbsp;

They committed just 12 turnovers, leading to 17 points for the Pistons. Likewise, Utah was very active on defense, as they forced 20 turnovers and scored 27 points.

“For our team to dig in defensively and have a lot of hand activity, it speaks to the mental aspect of our group. … I think there was a lot of physical fatigue tonight, but we stayed locked in mentally.”

5.) Dunn DominatesDown three guards on the night, one of the players Hardy needed extra from was a guard who had been ready for minutes. 

Assuming the&nbsp; backup role in the rotation, Kris Dunn has been an excellent leader and role model for the young team. He’s highly respected in the locker room and always stays prepared for when Hardy calls his name.&nbsp;

Dunn’s name was called against Detroit, and he was ready.&nbsp;

He finished with 13 points and 10 assists (one turnover), both season-highs. He was the calming presence the Jazz needed on the offensive end, scoring six points early in the fourth quarter as the Jazz pulled away for the victory.

“Kris is a good player. … He’s handled himself very well,” Hardy said of Dunn. “Kris is somebody because of his defensive ability, because of his kind of savvy on the offensive end, I am looking for opportunities to get him into the game. … Kris is definitely somebody I am thinking more about.”

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"Locked in Mentally" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Win Over Detroit

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Highlights: Ochai Agbaji – 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

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Highlights: Jazz 119 | Pistons 111

After entering Tuesday night on the second end of a back-to-back against a team they struggled against earlier in the season — and not to mention the physical and brutal defeats in the two games prior — it wouldn’t have been surprising if Utah struggled.

Utah came out focused and energized, using multiple runs throughout and a great defensive effort in the second half to take down Detroit 126-111.

“That’s a great team win on the second night of a back-to-back. … A lot of different guys contributed,” head coach Will Hardy said postgame. “It was a good bounce back for us after two rough games. I thought that game looked and felt a lot more like the team you guys have gotten to know so far this year. … I thought that our competitiveness really showed through.”

Here are five things to know following the win:

1.) Markkanen Makes His CaseAfter another hot start in the opening 12 minutes, Lauri Markkanen was downright dominant all game long. He tied his career-high with 38 points on 13-for-20 from the floor and 9-of-13 from beyond the arc, adding five rebounds. His nine three-pointers made was a career-high.

After being aggressive and getting to the free throw line last night against Cleveland, Markkanen showed that he’s just as good in the midrange and from deep. His most impressive moment came when he drilled a stepback three-pointer on one possession and followed that up with an impressive shot fake that allowed him to soar in for a dunk on the following possession.

“I always give credit to my teammates,” Markkanen said. “I think all of them were catch-and-shoot threes, so they did a good job of finding me, getting me open with good screens. So it was easy because I just had to step in and knock them down. … Happy to see a couple go through the hoop.”

2.) Conley ControlIt’s safe to say that Mike Conley hasn’t been up to his usual standards when shooting the ball. A splendid sharpshooter from beyond the arc, he has struggled since his return from injury.

But by no means does that signal that the 16-year veteran point guard can’t take complete control of a game. All someone had to do was watch the third quarter to realize his influence on Utah’s offense.

With Conley at the helm, the Jazz broke the game open by dropping 34 points in the quarter. When the Pistons started to make a push, Conley slowed things down and executed Utah’s offense to perfection.

He generated many open looks for his teammates, ensuring they never got sped up in the process. He finished with four points, three assists, and a +9 rating in the quarter.

While his seven points and seven assists may not seem like an impressive stat line, it was more about how he controlled the game and became the backbone the Jazz needed when it got close.

3.) No Zone, No MoreThroughout the season, Hardy has often gone to a zone defense to break up the rhythm of the opposing team. With Utah struggling in the second quarter on Tuesday night, he did the same thing — going to a zone defense with the idea of forcing the Pistons into different actions on offense.

Unfortunately, behind the play of rookie point guard Jaden Ivey, Detroit was undeterred and their offensive success continued after dropping 36 points in the second quarter.

Hardy went into the locker room at the break and asked his team whether or not they should stay with the zone or go back to man. The answer was swift and resounding — man defense it was. The Jazz responded by limiting the Pistons to 25 points in the third and breaking the game open.

“The team made a great adjustment by telling me not to do any more zone in the second half,” he said. “They committed to playing man-to-man defense at a very high level, and I think that was a big part of the reason why we were able to win the game. … I think that’s great for them to take ownership of what they’re most comfortable in.”

4.) Vando Dominates On Both EndsBefore Markkanen proved his All-Star candidacy over the past few weeks, Jarred Vanderbilt clamored for the 7-footer from Finland to be voted into the game.

While he may not be playing in the game himself, Vanderbilt was sensational on Tuesday night. He tied his season-high with 18 points, adding 13 rebounds and six assists as he was arguably Utah’s most important player on the court.

He got things started with a corner three-pointer, looking much more comfortable on those catch-and-shoot opportunities as he finished 2-for-4 from deep. While his offense was excellent, his defense and rebounding remain his best assets, as he completely changed the game on that end of the court.

“I thought Vando sparked us with his energy. ... He moved the ball great tonight,” Hardy said.

5.) Markkanen Makes His Case | Part IIThe big news entering Tuesday night was that NBA All-Star voting had officially opened that morning — and Markkanen reminded everyone that he deserves to be playing at the February showcase.

He’s emerged as Utah’s No. 1 option and has proven that he belongs in the discussion as NBA All-Star, among other potential accolades.

Markkanen is in the midst of a career year under Hardy, averaging career-highs of 22.8 points on 53.4% shooting from the field and 43.8% from three-point territory. He’s also putting up 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, all while elevating his play on the defensive end of the court.

First, Vanderbilt was preaching for Markkanen to play in the All-Star game, and now Jazz owner Ryan Smith has gotten in on the action. At this point… it’s hard to imagine Markkanen not being a part of the February showcase.

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“Give Credit To My Teammates" | Five Things To Know Following Utah's Victory Over Detroit

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