While the Jazz were holding their shootaround in preparation for tonight's game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the driver of a food service truck making a delivery at EnergySolutions Arena collided with Hart's parked car - a Cadillac Escalade.
No one was injured in the accident, which occurred when the truck came down the west ramp and into the congested close-in parking area. The truck failed to squeeze through an opening between a cement guard rail and Hart's vehicle, which was parked at the bottom of the ramp.
The truck hit the car as the driver was attempting to make a sharp left-hand turn toward the arena's loading dock area.
The back bumper and tail light on the right side of the new Escalade, which sells for between $55,000 and $70,000 depending on options, were badly damaged.
A member of the arena security staff told Hart about the accident after the shootaround. He went out to inspect the damage, made a couple of phone calls and returned to the locker room to get dressed.
On his way back to the parking lot, Hart stopped and said, "It's the inconvenience. It's not material. It's just now I have got to call and get me a rent-a-car and they're going to try and give me a car that's [worth] $40,000 less than what I drive. I don't want my kids back there sitting low. But you know how insurance companies do it."
For the record, the truck driver wasn't entirely at fault for the accident.
In the crowded lot, Hart's vehicle was parked next to what is supposed to be the last space along the west wall, cutting down on the size of the area through which the truck could maneuver.
In the Jazz's first four games, Hart is averaging 1.8 points and 2.3 assists in 11.3 minutes behind starting point guard Deron Williams. The free agent signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Jazz last summer.


