Roundball Roundup

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JP Chunga

He may have 1 season under his belt, but he doesn't have a full 82 games of service yet.

Ahead of Jazz-Trail Blazers, Ochai Agbaji has played in a total of 78 NBA contests. Barring injury, Agbaji will hit 82 on December 11 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He reflected on his development on the latest edition of Roundball Roundup.

"Taking a step up and just being aggressive, being a more aggressive defender, a better rebounder, different things like that," Agbaji said. "Talking. Using my voice more on the court with the guys and the coaches and trying to get everyone on the same page. Stepping into that - a different role than what I would have had as a rookie. It’s crazy to see a year ago from today - I wasn’t even playing with the Jazz. I’m just blessed to be in this position and have this opportunity."

Catch Ochai Agbaji 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: Ochai Agbaji close to 82 games

Monday night, the Utah Jazz hosted three members of their history. Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich, All-Star Truck Robinson, and the franchise's first draft pick Aaron James.

The former teammates joined JP Chunga on Roundball Roundup to recount their time with the New Orleans Jazz.

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Roundball Roundup: Gail Goodrich, Truck Robinson, and Aaron James

Krysten Peek, Draft Analyst for Yahoo Sports, has known Keyonte George since his high school AAU days, and there's one thing that stands out. He absolutely loves basketball.

"A story about Keyonte that his mother told me when she was out here," Peek explained. "And then we went to lunch, and she told me as soon as Key got drafted to the Jazz, he was watching every game from last season to try to figure out the Jazz system - how he can play within it. He is a meticulous student of the game."

Peek joined JP Chunga on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Keyonte George loves basketball

ESPN's Ryan Ruocco views the Jazz as a two-star team. One is Lauri Markkanen. And the other is Will Hardy.

"It’s interesting when you see guy as young as he is, and he just seems to have such a humanity about him," Ruocco said. "...When you see these young coaches and it just feels like they have that type of command there’s an appeal and they’re their own star."

Ruocco joined JP Chunga on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Will Hardy is a star

To this point, that's all the Jazz have been able to see. Up until Wednesday against the Pacers where rookie Keyonte George earned his first career start. It's George's poise from training camp to the regular season that proved he could handle the moment.

"I think he’s shown an ability to pass the ball," Hardy said pregame in Indianapolis. "I think he’s showing a very quick learning curve on both ends of the floor, and obviously, the decision is for him to potentially help the first group, and it’s also to maybe have some other guys in the second group that can help generate some more offense for that segment of the game as well. We’ll see how it goes."

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

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Roundball Roundup: Why Keyonte George earned his first start

This year, Will Hardy challenged Lauri Markkanen to be a leader. He's the best player.

Holly Rowe, Hall of Famer, watched up close at practice how he's taken on that role.

"He is an encourager," Rowe recounted. "He may not be the loudest throughout the whole practice, but when he speaks, it is encouraging words, it is positivity, it is funny. I do think he is evolving as a leader, and it’s only going to get better from here."

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

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Roundball Roundup: Lauri Markkanen's leadership style

In one year at Baylor, Keyonte George shot up draft boards and ultimately landed in Utah. As the 16th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, expectations have followed him since a spectacular Summer League. The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann took notice.

George displayed "shooting in a phone booth" much like Jamal Murray.

"If you’re that age and you have that skillset that is a potential star type skillset," Mann said. "So I think that’s why Keyonte is so intriguing, which also makes it kind of interesting why he fell in the draft. If a player has that kind of growth plate in their game, the Jazz are lucky that they snagged him at that spot honestly, all things considered."

Catch J. Kyle Mann on Roundball Roundup on Apple, Spotify, Google, or Stitcher.

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Roundball Roundup: Keyonte George's star skillset

With the season starting against the Kings, General Manager Justin Zanik sat down with JP Chunga to preview the season.

"Lauri [Markkanen] going from a very good role-playing starter to a Most Improved Player, an All-Star starter," Zanik said. "Next step, and you’ve heard Coach [Will Hardy] talk about this in the media as well, he’s a de facto leader on our team now. How he embraces that being number one on the scouting report, on basketball court. And then also as a leader as all of these players look at him off the court. He’s built for it. Most great leaders are the ones that don’t ever ask to do it. I don’t think Lauri would ever ask to do it. But when asked to do it, he’s up for it."

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

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Roundball Roundup: GM Justin Zanik talks Danny Ainge memes and Jordan Clarkson extension

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