The Utah Jazz have hit rock bottom with their record this season.
Marking the third-straight year of their full-scale rebuild, the franchise finds itself at the depths of the league hierarchy once again. With an awful 16-57 card in the Western Conference, they have been the worst team in the NBA this 2024-25.
Despite their sustained mediocrity, the Utah Jazz still holds plans to compete for a bright future behind the leadership of Lauri Markkanen.
But this season offers nothing new for them as their development as a rebuilding team has remained stagnant.
As growing pains continue, the Jazz saw another humbling, yet frustrating loss that only left head coach Will Hardy more frustrated.
In the team’s March 25 showcase against the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah was in fighting distance towards a rare victory, until they demonstrated a disastrous meltdown down the stretch.
Both teams entered half-time in a tight contest, with the Jazz just trailing by one. But as the final buzzer horned, the scoreboard flashed an emphatic 140-103 victory at the side of the Grizzlies.
In a blink of an eye, the Jazz allowed the Grizzlies to skyrocket for a win, despite the opponents’ controversial altercation during the game. Utah took their foot off the gas pedal as Memphis sizzled at the other end, dismantling them in the scoring (76-38) and rebounding (33-8) at the second half.
As such, in his postgame interview, Hardy didn’t hold back ripping his team for their lackluster effort to close out the game.
“I’ve talked a lot about how we carry ourselves meaning something to me, and those words are not hollow,” Hardy said.
“That second half was really disappointing, and it’s not representative of who we want to be as an organization. It’s not representative of who I want us to be.
“There are very few times where I’ve been disappointed in our group, and tonight I’ll drive home disappointed. But we have to all wake up tomorrow and get back to work. And it is one game. It is one half. I understand that, and I’ll get some sleep and wake up tomorrow with perspective.
“But during the game, perspective’s for the birds. The lights are on, you’re competing. You’re representing an organization, representing a fan base, our community. That was just unacceptable.”
With core members inactive for the game, from Markkanen, Keyontae George, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson, Hardy has given the Jazz’s young nucleus some reps to prove themselves. But amid the golden opportunity to play, they could not capitalize as Utah crumbled in a disappointing fashion.
On social media, Jazz fans offered mixed reaction over Hardy’s emotional postgame rant.
A fan said: “Coming from an organization that is literally tanking to try and draft Cooper Flagg.”
Another one offered a question: “Wait, are individual players trying to win when the organization is explicitly trying to lose? Is that what’s going on here?”
“Will Hardy and the Jazz organization need to look in the mirror,” a Jazz fan argued. “Tanking brings consequences. All for a 14 percent to draft an 18 year old. Hypocrisy at its finest.”
A Utah faithful offered his observation: “Will is actually playing to win, and putting the rotations in thinking they can win then I would have to question his decisions. Some rotations are looking more obvious of a losing mentality, so don’t now expect the players to have a win mentality all of a sudden.”
With a random one keeping it real: “The team is not listening any more. Let’s just end the season and this nightmare. Please.”
As there’s still nine games left on their table, Hardy and the Jazz got some plenty of time to work things out and utilize the remaining part of the season for an added development.
