This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A native of Seattle, Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder remembers rooting for the SuperSonics in his teenage years. He remembers the pride the city had in the NBA franchise. He remembers identifying with the Sonics.
And he also remembers their departure. It's the reason why Gail Miller's announcement on Monday afternoon of the Jazz being put in a legacy family trust hit home with Snyder. Still, he wasn't shocked on a personal level.
"For myself, in my working relationships and personal association on some level, it's not surprising," Snyder said. "I think that commitment and the idea that the team and the Jazz are shared by both the fans, the staff, the players, the entire organization is something that's resonated in the discussions I've had when I was interviewed and beyond. It's an unprecedented and exciting thing."
Snyder and Jazz players, as they prepared to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, expressed gratitude that the franchise will be in Utah for the foreseeable future.
The hustle and bustle of an NBA season can detach the players and coaches from what's going on at the ownership level. After all, their jobs are to win games, and to have tunnel vision in trying to win games.
At the same time, rumors of the franchise one day leaving the state had been persistent ever since Larry H. Miller's death. It can be difficult to not hear things. So players were grateful for the security of Monday's announcement, even if they weren't affected by negotiations or anything else outside of the ultimate outcome.
"It's a great thing for the city and the state and all the fans," Jazz forward Boris Diaw said. "It's a great thing for the team, knowing that the team will always be here."
He's back
Oklahoma City center Steven Adams made his return on Monday night against the Jazz, after missing time due to a concussion. Adams was labeled a game-time decision, and was deemed good to go after warming up.
Changing roles
Snyder went with Dante Exum as Monday night's backup point guard, replacing Raul Neto, who had the distinction for the last week. Exum scored three points in the first half. He also had a nice assist to Rudy Gobert for a dunk.
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