Will Hardy

none

Ryan Kostecka

Before Will Hardy became head coach of the Utah Jazz in July 2022, he was coming off an appearance in the NBA Finals as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. Although Boston would fall 4-2 to Steph Curry and the Warriors, that experience gave Hardy a taste of what the NBA mountain top was like.&nbsp;

A week after he took over as head coach, the Jazz traded All-NBA center Rudy Gobert to Minnesota in a franchise-altering deal. Utah was at it again two months later, trading All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for a massive haul back that included Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton.&nbsp;

It was clear from those two moves — and a slew of others — that Utah was embarking on a new era, one with Hardy as the leading man.&nbsp;

Two years later, the rebuilding process is in full swing, even ahead of schedule, according to some analysts. However, despite finding an All-Star in Markkanen, being armed with a bevy of first-round picks, and appearing to nail the 2023 draft class with their trio of rookies, the Jazz have missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. While it's not a complete shock, missing out on the playoffs in back-to-back years has only fueled Hardy's desire.

"I have a deep longing for the playoffs and for being a winning team. … And when you have two years in a row where that's not what you are, it burns the fire a little bit hotter," Hardy said.

With the offseason underway, Hardy has had time to decompress and think about everything that had transpired over the previous eight months. From a slow start to a scorching run in December and January to the trade deadline and injuries derailing the promising season, it was a year full of highs, lows, and plenty of emotions in between.&nbsp;

"I thought the guys played really hard," Hardy said upon reflection. "I also felt that despite how the end of the season went, despite some of the noise around that, nobody made excuses, nobody complained, nobody blamed anybody else. … That's from the top down. We are all in it together. … What happens at the Delta Center is a reflection of all of us. We win together and we lose together, that's just how this has to be. I feel like I had the utmost confidence in our entire organization because even though we had some tough times at the end of the year, I didn't see any behavior internally that was alarming. We all have to do the work, we all have a part to play.

While reflection is good, it never once clouded Hardy's judgment on what the future could bring — specifically, the offseason.&nbsp;

"We got a lot of work to do in every way," he said. "There's always a sense of the adrenaline wearing off when the season ends and you have 48 hours or so to start to decompress and then questions become what's the first thing to address? There's obviously a lot of things we got to work on as a team, but getting the players geared up for their postseason programs is the first thing on my agenda. … Send those guys off with a clear vision of where I see them, where we see them, and give them an opportunity to have conversations with me about the things they see and feel. All so we can set ourselves up for the best summer possible."

Each player and coach will have their own designated list of things they need to work on, but Hardy's work goes beyond what takes place on the court. He's always prided himself on being labeled a "player's" coach who can connect with his guys in ways most coaches can't.&nbsp;

"I obviously try to spend time with them off the floor. … It's a big deal for me in the offseason," he said. "I think building a foundation of a personal relationship is really important for coaches and players because we get in these moments in the season where it's emotional for all of us. … There's fatigue, and sometimes there are conversations that are uncomfortable. There's moments that can be heated, and if you have a foundation of a personal relationship underneath all of that, then there's never a misunderstanding of whether this is personal or not."

"It allows you to coach them in a way where they know and believe that I care about them as human beings, and the part that I'm coaching them hard on is just about basketball. … The offseason is a really good time to do those things."

While Hardy knows what he wants to accomplish off the court, he's also aware of what he wants to achieve on it this summer.

"I've got a long list," Hardy said when asked what he's deep diving this offseason. "We've got to figure out a lot of things defensively, got to figure out how to use some of our smaller guards on the defensive side of the floor. Obviously late in the season we shelved the zone for a bunch of reasons, but I'm still a big believer in our zone. What's the right balance of man and zone? The offensive side of the ball, I'm always debating with myself the balance of pick-and-roll and off-ball. … I think we've walked that line pretty well. But as personnel has changed, I need to be honest with myself about who we have on the roster and try to put them in a situation to be successful."

One of the biggest challenges Hardy could face this summer is the uncertainty surrounding the roster. After CEO of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge said the team will go "big game hunting" this summer and that entering training camp with "six kids under 20" isn't ideal, anything is possible for the Jazz. But just because the possibilities are endless, it won't alter the way Hardy goes about his business. 

"I don't think about it like that. … I just coach who's in the locker room," Hardy said. "I'll go about it thinking about Lauri, and Keyonte, and Walker, and Taylor, Jordan, John. … I'm going about it like those are the guys on the team because they are. If things change, so will I. I think if we always worry about what might happen, especially in this business, we may never do anything because there's always the 'what ifs' you see in the offseason and the season. … That's where being flexible is a strength for our program."

Regardless of who is on the roster by the time October rolls around and the 2024-25 season tips off, Hardy knows what sort of team he wants to put on the court — particularly when it comes to returning to the Finals.

"I think the optionality of being able to do multiple things is a huge factor for me," Hardy said. "I just don't think you can throw fastballs the whole playoffs and win. … You have to be able to pivot to something else on both sides of the floor because certain matchups give you different problems. I think we are building a foundation with our players being able to switch their mindset in a game or before a game. I think their mental approach to not getting flustered by the fact that things change is ultimately going to help us be successful in the playoffs."

building-a-foundation-work-to-be-done-as-hardy-and-the-jazz-enter-pivotal-offseason

"Building a Foundation" — Work to be Done as Hardy and the Jazz Enter Pivotal Offseason

Jeremy Rincon

Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge meets with the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season and discusses the 2023-24 season and objectives, where certain players need to develop in the offseason and looking ahead to next year.

will-hardy-end-of-season-media-availability

Will Hardy End of Season Media Availability

JP Chunga

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.

Roundball Roundup is presented by First Colony Mortgage, the official mortgage lender of the Utah Jazz.

roundball-roundup-tim-macmahons-take-on-the-utah-jazz

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

For his second start in the NBA, Taylor Hendricks drew an assignment to remember - a 7-foot-4 phenom from France. Hendricks took it like any other player he’s faced this season. Be it Kevin Durant, Brandon Miller, future opponents.

“Lock him down, I’m trying to do anything to help the team win,” Hendricks said postgame.

Achievement unlocked. The Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-109, snapping a five game losing streak. Hendricks earned positive reviews for limiting Victor Wembanyama to 22 points on 9-17 shooting.

“We felt like his mixture of enough size, well no one has enough size to guard Victor, but I think Taylor did a good job of using his speed and his length to try to climb up underneath and speed him up a little bit,” Will Hardy explained postgame. “Ends up fouling out with two tough plays where he has two hands on his back of the entry pass. But overall I thought Taylor did a good job initially at the point of attack of not just getting blown by. It allowed his teammates to help him.”

“It was a good challenge for him to have, and he did a really good job,” Lauri Markkanen praised.

Midway through the first quarter, Hendricks stood Wembanyama up, allowing Collin Sexton to dig from the free throw line. The Frenchman attempted a left-handed spinning hook, and John Collins secured the rebound. 

All this on a player Collins labeled from Mars, not France, in his Sideline Sounds mic'd up segment.

Offensively, Hendricks confidently attacked a closeout for a dunk.

Hendricks finished with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and a block. “The more you play with a group of guys, the more chemistry you build,” the former UCF standout said.

Three Jazzmen notched 20+ points: Lauri Markkanen led the way with 26 points on five made threes; Jordan Clarkson chipped in with 22; John Collins added 20.&nbsp;

The Jazz head to Atlanta to face the Hawks on Tuesday.

im-trying-to-do-anything-to-help-the-team-win-taylor-hendricks-stands-tall-in-spurs-win

“I’m trying to do anything to help the team win" — Taylor Hendricks stands tall in Spurs win

utaatrinh

Jazz head coach Will Hardy meets with the media following practice on Saturday discussing getting Kira and Otto comfortable with the team and finding the balance again.

coach-hardy-we-want-to-be-a-team-thats-competing-for-a-championship

Coach Hardy - 'We want to be a team that's competing for a championship'

Jazz head coach Will Hardy meets with the media following practice on Friday, discussing improving communication within the team, game planning defense when a player is red hot and improving transition defense.

coach-hardy-our-attention-to-detail-at-the-beginning-of-the-game-is-important

Coach Hardy – ‘Our attention to detail at the beginning of the game is important’

Jazz head coach Will Hardy meets with the media following practice on Thursday, discussing when the team started improving, the growth of Simone Fontecchio and having a variety of skillsets on the team.

coach-hardy-the-first-part-of-the-season-helped-us-learn-and-informed-us-on-a-lot-of-things

Coach Hardy – ‘The first part of the season helped us learn and informed us on a lot of things’

Exactly one year ago, Utah's massive fourth-quarter comeback came up just short as the Jazz fell to San Antonio the day after Christmas.&nbsp;

While Utah again found success in the final 12 minutes, there would be no comeback as the Jazz never trailed in the second half en route to a 130-118 victory over the Spurs on Tuesday night. It was Utah's sixth win in their past eight games.

"It's a good road win… winning on the road is tough in this league," head coach Will Hardy said. "The trip has been pretty long, a little funky with Christmas in between, but I think the team is just really engaged right now. Three road wins in a row for our team. ... I hope they feel good about it."

&nbsp;Here are five things to know following the win.

1.) Finally HealthyKeyonte George and Talen Horton-Tucker were made available for Tuesday's game, marking the first time since Nov. 22 that Hardy had a full and healthy rotation. 

Hardy elected to go with a 10-man rotation, with Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Kelly Olynyk, and John Collins as the starters. Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler, and George entered six minutes in, with Simone Fontecchio checking in later in the quarter. Ochai Agbaji capped the rotation by checking in during the second quarter.&nbsp;

Although this was the rotation against San Antonio, it's not given that this will be the exact rotation moving forward. Hardy has been known to mix things up based on matchups and performance, as evidenced when Luka Samanic played 10 massive minutes in the second half of Utah's victory over Detroit.

Regardless of the rotation moving forward, it's a good sign for the Jazz to finally be healthy, as they're playing their best basketball of the season.

2.) Hometown StarAfter returning in impressive fashion a couple nights ago, Clarkson kept the good vibes rolling Tuesday night. Returning to his hometown, Clarkson finished with 24 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. 

The Flamethrower has carved out an impressive career but has become revered by Jazz Nation since joining the organization four years and three days ago.&nbsp;

He won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award in 2021 when he averaged 18.4 points per game. He's second all-time for threes made in a season with 208. He dropped a career-high 45 points two years ago in a 134-125 win over Sacramento. He had a career season last year, registering highs in points, rebounds, and assists as a full-time starter. He also ranks fifth all-time in Jazz history with 681 made three-pointers.

Before his NBA success, Clarkson was a star for Karen Wagner High School in San Antonio.&nbsp;

He burst onto the scene as a junior, averaging 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists while leading his team to the Class 5A state semifinals. After signing a letter of intent to play for Tulsa, Clarkson capped his high school career by being named the San Antonio High School Player of the Year. He averaged 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals as Karen Wagner fell in the state title game.&nbsp;

"First and foremost, all of us in Utah know that JC is not normal. … Anything we think what a normal player would do, I don't assume any of those things with Jordan," Hardy said. "Jordan is a big part of our team on the floor. … He's a big part of the personality of our team and the personality of our organization."

3.) Three-Headed MonsterNow healthy and back, it appears the Jazz have found something between Markkanen, Sexton, and Clarkson. Markkanen and Sexton have developed chemistry in the starting lineup while Clarkson has shined off the bench the past two games.

All three scored 20+ against the Spurs, combining for 75 points. This came three nights after the trio combined for 76 points in Utah's come-from-behind victory over Toronto.&nbsp;

Markkanen was extremely efficient, finishing with 31 points (12-of-17 from the field, 5-for-9 from three) and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.&nbsp;

"We are just getting back to our identity," Markkanen said of Utah's recent run. "We are moving with the ball and without the ball, playing unselfish basketball. … That's really been key for us offensively."

4.) 'Young Bull' DunkWhile the Jazz have had some memorable dunks this season — including George's first-career poster and Collins' baptism — Sexton added his name to that list Tuesday night. 

Early in the third quarter, Sexton took a pass from Kelly Olynyk and, with nobody around him, bounced the ball to himself before throwing down a 360-dunk. It was one of Sexton's two dunks over two minutes in the quarter.&nbsp;

Overall, Sexton continued his strong play of late as he finished with 20 points, six assists, and three rebounds. He was unstoppable within the arc, shooting 8-of-8 from the floor.

5.) Returning HomeAs mentioned earlier, it was precisely one year ago when the Jazz fell to the Spurs in San Antonio. While a loss is never good, it was a special night for Hardy as it was the first time he returned to San Antonio as a head coach. 

"I came here 22, single, as an intern and left 11 years later, 33 years old, an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich on the bench, married, with a daughter and another one on the way. … So in a lot of ways, I feel like I grew up in San Antonio," he said a year ago.

Hardy's NBA journey began in San Antonio in 2010 as a video intern under Popovich. From 2013-15, he was the Spurs team video coordinator before being promoted to Popovich's coaching staff, where he also led San Antonio's summer league squads for four consecutive years.&nbsp;

"Whether it's knowledge or creating standards, and understanding how to get that across to people for them to buy in, he's a highly intelligent person who understands people," Popovich said of Hardy. "He can get a lot out of people, and you could see that real quick when he started here in the film room. … These days, you have to understand people.”

hope-they-feel-good-5-things-to-know-following-utahs-victory-over-san-antonio

"Hope They Feel Good" — 5 Things to Know Following Utah's Victory Over San Antonio

Presented By:

Delta

<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>