G League Playing Pivotal Role in Utah Jazz Rebuild

On Nov. 22, Taylor Hendricks and Walter Clayton Jr. were assigned to the Salt Lake City Stars for assignment.

Clayton Jr. recorded 20 points, three steals, and five assists in his debut. Hendricks posted seven points, five rebounds, and one steal. A day later, the Jazz recalled both players.

Since moving to Utah from Boise in 2016, the Stars have been imperative to the Jazz organization’s player development. From players like Georges Niang to Joel Bolomboy, the Stars continue to produce NBA talent.

In an exclusive interview with The Lead, I sat down with the voice of the Stars, JP Chunga, to discuss the development team’s pivotal role in the current Jazz rebuild.

What is the G League?

The G League is a forgotten sports enterprise. Any casual fan will remember teams like the Fort Wayne Mad Ants or Sioux Falls Skyforce, but that’s about it, despite the league generating stars like Pascal Siakam and Khris Middleton.

The league began in 2001 as the NBA Development, or “D” League. Gatorade came along in the 2017-18 season, and the minors became the “G” League.

Development is the league’s main goal, helping players, refs, and coaches become accustomed to NBA systems. Many teams use the league to get their rookies and two-way contract players ready for NBA play.

Veterans in the NBA also benefit from the G League. Former stars like Isaiah Thomas (who played for the Stars last year), Kendrick Perkins, Victor Oladipo and Dennis Smith Jr. highlight the latest vets who have and are trying to get back on an NBA roster.

“Even if all eyes aren’t on [the G League], you know that the league is watching these games, your next opportunity may come,” said Chunga. “There really aren’t any garbage minutes or garbage time— every moment is being checked by organizations.”

A Two-Pronged Approach 

With young players, any minute counts. Their basketball lives need every bit of refinement to become a key cog in NBA society. Any injury or lack of skill can cause a player to lose minutes and perhaps be out of the league.

There’s a symbiotic relationship between the two programs— most of the staff of the Jazz and Stars cross over. The discussion is how to get these players on the court and help them evolve their game. 

“They have been very accommodating to building teams and creating squads that match what a head coach is wanting to do,” stated Chunga. The head coach of the Stars is Rick Higgins, a former assistant coach of the Jazz.

Higgins knows the system Will Hardy wants to run and is willing to put that play into motion. 

“These coaching staffs travel with the Jazz during the preseason, they’re in on the coaching retreats when Will’s laying out a plan in the offseason,” Chunga said. “It’s a conversation and something that’s living and breathing rather than a set made decision.”

In the recent assignment against the Stockton Kings, Higgins sat both Clayton Jr. and Hendricks for taking too many contested shots— a teaching method Hardy is known for.

The G League creates a smoother transition for players entering or returning to the league— kind of like a driver’s ed course prepares you for a license. 

Higgins prioritizes players on two-way contracts, such as rookie John Tonje and defensive dynamo Elijah Harkless. Higgins knows their development matters most because they are the closest to being called up. 

“Rick Higgins wants [Harkless] not only to be the offensive hub, something that maybe he won’t be at the NBA level,” stated Chunga. “But then holding accountable on the defensive side.”

How Higgins mentors the developing players is important. He’s helping players identify which skills are translatable to the NBA. Fans saw this plan in action during Utah’s game against the Boston Celtics.

Harkless was able to lock down Jaylen Brown and get an offensive foul called on him down the stretch. Without his time in the G League, Harkless may not have been able to acquire that skill.

An Insider Approach

Not only is the Stars’ head coach a previous Jazz assistant coach, but the Jazz also hired Steve Wojciechowski, the previous head coach of the G League affiliate, to Hardy’s staff.

Wojciechowski worked with Hendricks, Cody Williams, and Brice Sensabaugh during his time as the Stars’ head coach. Each player saw improvements to his game while under coach Wojciechowski.

When asked about Wojciechowski’s impact on those players, Chunga said this.

“One of the first games Cody Williams played in the G League, he attempted more shots in that game than he did in any single game in college,” Chunga noted. “You can be prioritized, and Wojo can say I need you to play free and be aggressive.”

Chunga also noted in the same conversation that the Jazz knew Hendricks and Williams would be development projects. While they were in the G League, they were able to be prioritized in a lineup.

It helped Williams and Hendricks gain confidence and refine their skills to reach the main Jazz roster. With Wojciechowski now there with them, he can help prioritize their growth at practice. 

Wojciechowski’s presence and leadership helped Williams turn into a good defensive player. Hopefully their growth continues, and who knows, maybe more minutes in the G League might help them even more. 

It helps when the Stars are only a few minutes away in the west part of Salt Lake— another advantage to the Jazz’s developmental approach. 

Many G League affiliates are far from their teams, making call-ups difficult. You have to fly players out and wait for them to get to the practice facility. The Jazz only asks them to drive 20 minutes through traffic.

Go and See For Yourself

Though they fly quietly under the radar, the Stars have been an important cog in the Jazz developmental machine. Without them, we wouldn’t have seen players like Sensabaugh or Kyle Filipowski make leaps in their progression.

Giving extra minutes, prioritizing coaching, and even facing off against former/current NBA players help prepare guys for a long career. 

Plus, if it doesn’t work out, they can use the G League to help them get to another NBA team later on. Go support the Salt Lake City Stars; they currently play at the Maverick Center in West Valley City, Utah. 

Rookies like Tonje will play with exciting two-way players like Oscar Tshiebwe, currently a league-leading rebounder. The team even has former lottery pick Mo Bamba too.

The Stars are tied with the South Bay Lakers right now at 5-1. They won their first-ever home playoff game in club history last year and look to break more history this year by making it further in the postseason. 

Each night, they continue to play tough-nosed and winning basketball. It’s a fun and affordable time to cheer on the rookies and veterans alike.

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