This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Jazz fans attending the team's annual NBA Draft party at EnergySolutions Arena cheered the selection of Enes Kanter and Alec Burks in the first round Thursday night.
Seriously.
Going back to 1984, when their team took a little-known point guard from Gonzaga named John Stockton, Utah fans have earned a reputation for their harsh initial reactions to the team's draft picks.
For at least one year, however, the fans were receptive, especially after the Jazz grabbed Kanter at No. 3.
"… I think everybody recognized that the player we got was worthy of the pick," general manager Kevin O'Connor said.
Aside from wondering who the Jazz would draft, many in the estimated crowd of 7,500 showed up to see if BYU star Jimmer Fredette might end up with Utah.
He did not.
After the Jazz took Kanter, Fredette was taken with the 10th pick, leaving Burks for Utah at No. 12.
In the hours before he was drafted, several fans held up signs urging the Jazz to take Fredette and keep him in Utah.
"Ready for the New D-Will," one said, referring to former Jazz point guard Deron Williams.
"Good Knight, the Jazz got it right," said another, referencing Brandon Knight, another point guard in the draft, who went No. 8 to Detroit.
"Fredette: marry me," read another sign.
After Fredette was drafted ahead of the Jazz, however, sentiments changed.
The words on some signs were crossed out and replaced by handwritten messages.
"Utah got Jimmered," read one.
"Fredette, I want a divorce," the young woman's sign read.
The crowd was in a festive mood from the moment the doors opened an hour before the start of the draft.
When NBA Commissioner David Stern was pictured on the Jumbotron, he was booed.
When a highlight of Miami Heat star LeBron James was shown, the crowd booed again.
Randy Rigby, the Jazz team president, announced the decision to draft Kanter to the crowd moments before it was announced on ESPN's draft coverage.
Rigby said Kanter "is going to be a remarkable player for the Utah Jazz."