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JP Chunga

Author Ben Kaplan (Pipeline to the Pros: How D3, Small-College Nobodies Rose to Rule the NBA) was a D3 Nobody.

He played at Amherst with a future Hall of Fame Head Coach, a future NBA General Manager, and a future NBA assistant. Because of those connections, he figured there was something there for a book about these D3 nobodies.

Will Hardy competed against Kaplan at Williams. How he landed an internship with San Antonio is known, but his D3 experience opened the door.

"He was doing everything from driving people to and from the airport," Kaplan said. "He was making sure that people had passes ready for scouting events. And he was listening to calls and taking notes. And then at the end of that long day because he’s 6-6 and played college basketball and he was younger at the time hopping on the court and working out guys. Getting that level of experience so young to see how every part of an NBA organization works is so unique."

Catch Ben Kaplan 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: Will Hardy's D3 Roots and Pipeline to the Pros

To wrap up the year and recap the season, hear from Head Coach Will Hardy. He talked about every player under contract. JP Chunga rounded up some of the quotes.

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

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Roundball Roundup: Best of Will Hardy soundbites

Coming down the stretch, the NBA's Western Conference is up for grabs. The Ringer's Rob Mahoney knows that all too well.

But even the bottom of the West offers intrigue. Rob and his colleagues on Group Chat discussed the bright spots with the Jazz, Rockets, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Blazers. On Utah, Rob enjoyed Taylor Hendricks.

"He’s already pretty dogged trying to fight through screens for example," Mahoney said. "But you get a better sense of how to fight around a Jusuf Nurkic screen the more you play against a guy like that."

Catch Rob Mahoney on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Rob Mahoney on the last week of the NBA season

ESPN's Tim MacMahon has covered the Jazz for a while now, but last Thursday in Dallas, he got his eyes on Utah for the first time this season.

While Keyonte George didn't have his best game in his hometown, George's potential has impressed many NBA onlookers.

"I understand why they think this kid has that star potential," MacMahon said. "Whether it’s his scoring, whether is some of the natural passing ability that he has."

Catch Tim MacMahon on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Tim MacMahon's take on the Utah Jazz

Isaiah Thomas has loved basketball as long as he can remember. The newest Salt Lake City Star spoke to JP Chunga about joining the G League.

"Before I loved anything, I loved a basketball," Thomas said. "It just brings a smile to my face. It’s never felt like work. It’s never felt like it’s been hard. It’s just something, obviously I’ve been really good at it since I was young, but everything about the game of basketball I loved, and I know until that goes away like I’m going to give it everything I have. No matter if it’s in the G League, back in the NBA - because I know I will be back there at some point - or back at the crib hooping with kids. It doesn’t matter. That feeling is just the same."

Catch Isaiah Thomas on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Isaiah Thomas wants to be in the NBA

JP Chunga caught up with General Manager Justin Zanik to recap the Utah Jazz's trade deadline.

"Our job in the front office is to listen and see if there is anything that can be in the best interest of the Utah Jazz long term as part of our plan to open up a championship window," Zanik said. "...Part of that plan is recognizing opportunities even if it sometimes can be a little emotional. Simone [Fontecchio], Kelly [Olynyk], and Ochai [Agbaji] were three guys that came here when we rebooted the franchise - from an ownership level to foundation player level, a new coach. And they were part of the beginning of that."

Catch Justin Zanik on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Justin Zanik talks Jazz trade deadline moves

The trade deadline saw the Jazz's rotation completely changed. Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, and Simone Fontecchio were packaged for two draft picks, Otto Porter Jr., Kira Lewis Jr., and Kevin Knox.

Will Hardy reacted to the news ahead of Utah's game against Phoenix.

"There’s gonna be a process right now of figuring out what’s next in terms of who fits well with who," Hardy said. "The way that my brain thinks about it is always going to be about how we put the best ecosystem on the floor for 48 minutes. Everybody gets caught up in who starts. I understand the human part of that, but to me it’s unimportant. We’ve got to get through 48 minutes. We’ve got to figure out the balance of sub patterns and groups that are going to be on the floor together for long stretches of time over the course of the game. And I would anticipate that these next couple of games, we’re gonna have to experiment a little bit and try a few different things out to try and find the right balance with some different things going on."

Catch reaction to the trade deadline and 90's Jazzman Bryon Russell on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Trade Deadline reaction + Bryon Russell on 90's Jazz

At this point last year, Mike Williams was preparing for the Windy City Bulls in the G League. It was his second year in charge after being hired at 25-years-old. Now he's in the NBA as an assistant coach on Will Hardy's staff.

Williams chatted with JP Chunga ahead of Jazz-Wizards.

"So much has happened in just a year," Williams said. "And things I would’ve never been able to predict. I would’ve never predicted coming in contact with Will [Hardy] and being hired by the Jazz and moving to Salt Lake. I could’ve predicted that Kris would’ve gotten called up. That’s one. I wasn’t sure which team. But the way he was playing for us, it would be silly for a team not to choose him. But when I think about it, I’m really blown away because you never know how life goes, but I feel like when you stay focused on just the day-to-day stuff and try to do a good job and help the people around you those things end up working out in your favor."

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Roundball Roundup: Mike Williams goes from Go-Go to Utah Jazz

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<strong>Tonight's game against the Golden State Warriors has been postponed. <a href="https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/utah-jazz-vs-golden-state-warriors-postponed">Learn More &gt;</a></strong>