Utah Jazz: Center Tibor Pleiss settling into his new home

The giant German with the stylish mustache couldn't help but enjoy the flecks of familiar as he took in the festivities at Snowbird's Oktoberfest a few weekends ago.

"German steins in America, it was really funny," said new Utah Jazz big man Tibor Pleiss. "I was laughing a lot. It was amazing to hear some German country music. The beer dance was amazing.

"And the chicken dance," he said while stymying a chuckle, "… I don't talk about that."

Aside from some minor culinary critiques (Pleiss' favorite meal, schnitzel with red sauerkraut and potatoes, "was not the same" that afternoon as back home), the 7-foot-3 center seems to be finding himself at home in Utah.

But forget the prost moves for a minute.

How about some post moves?

Now it's time to see how quickly Pleiss can make himself at home on the basketball court, where he's adjusting to new rules, new schemes and new terminology in a second language.

"There's a level there when everything is different in your life … when you're making the transition from the Euroleague to the NBA," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said on Wednesday. "We're going to be patient with him. He's going to keep working. He's been good."

Pleiss will be a rookie this season, subject to the all the hazing and some of the struggles that come with that. But the 25-year-old already has a solid foundation of professional experience upon which to build. He started playing in Germany at age 17, before moving to Spain's top league. In 2010, he was second round pick (31st overall), but remained in Europe to further develop his game.

After the Jazz acquired his rights from Oklahoma City as part of the Enes Kanter trade, Pleiss decided now was the time to make the next step in his career, signing a three-year deal to come to Utah.

"It was always my dream to come to the United States and play in the NBA," he said. "That's one dream that came true."

Pleiss has a chance to stake his spot as the Jazz's backup center, providing a more offensive-minded big man off the bench to spell the defensive dynamo Rudy Gobert. He filled a similar reserve role last season with Barcelona, where he averaged 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in while backing up one-time Jazz draft pick Ante Tomic.

Pleiss has good size, though he must add strength to battle the centers of the NBA both offensively in the post and for rebounds, areas of his game that must improve. These are among the challenges he said he plans to embrace.

"That's why I'm here," Pleiss said. "I want to improve. I want to play with the best players and against the best players."

Pleiss' adjustment to the NBA should be made easier thanks to his relationship with Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen, who helped coach the German national team this summer. Along the way, Jensen stopped to give Pleiss pointers about how to best tailor his game to the NBA and installed some plays that the Jazz run.

The new Jazzman reciprocated by teaching Jensen some German.

"I teached him some bad words," Pleiss — who speaks excellent English thanks in large to part to the help of former Stanford Cardinal and NBA player Casey Jacobsen and other American teammates he had in Europe — said with a grin.

Jazz teammate, friend and former Spanish league foe Joe Ingles believes the big man will make the transition from Europe to the NBA just fine.

"For me the biggest adjustment was the on-court stuff, the speed and athleticism," said Ingles, who played for Barcelona while Pleiss played for a different club in Spain. "Once you get that, it's basketball. It's the same kind of game. Tibor will be fine. He's played at a high level in Europe for a long time. This adjustment will be pretty quick and easy. He'll learn on the fly and he'll fit in well."

Jazz officials also believe Pleiss will settle in quickly, thanks largely to his offensive skills. Earlier this summer, general manager Dennis Lindsey referenced Atlanta Hawks center Tiago Splitter's pick-and-roll game, adding that Pleiss might be able to do some of the same things in Utah.

Meanwhile, the 7-footer's best skill might be the one he's been asked to show off least in his career.

"I have a good touch," Pleiss said. "I think I show it sometimes in the past, but I never really had the situation where somebody gives me the chance to shoot [often], because the coaches want me under the basket."

The Jazz have raved this summer about Pleiss' soft shooting touch and range. When he visited Salt Lake for a workout this summer, the big center reportedly hit 66 of 90 attempts from three-point territory during a shooting drill.

Surely, Jazz fans can raise a stein to that.

afalk@sltrib.com

Twitter: @tribjazz