| Have you ever wondered why the Utah Jazz is | | | | overpowered them and won the series (4-2). |
| named as such? New Orleans, Louisiana was the | | | | Having established a solid team, the Jazz would play all |
| birthplace of jazz, right? In fact, the NBA squad, the | | | | the right notes during the next regular season, finishing |
| Utah Jazz, was originally the New Orleans Jazz. The | | | | with an outstanding 62-20 record. In the playoffs, the |
| Jazz played in New Orleans from 1975-1979. When | | | | Jazz would battle back to shoot down the Houston |
| the team moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, it retained the | | | | Rockets (3-2), unseat the San Antonio Spurs (4-1), and |
| original team name. | | | | then drain the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0). |
| Here are some interesting facts about Utah:o Utah's | | | | Many NBA experts chose the Utah Jazz to end the |
| name originates from the Ute Native Americanso | | | | Bulls' five-championship dynasty. However, the Jazz fell |
| Utah's nickname is the "Beehive State"o The state bird | | | | behind in the series 3-1, and never recovered. In Game |
| is ironically the California Sea Gullo The Utah state flag | | | | 6, Michael Jordan willed the Bulls to victory and a 4-2 |
| contains a beehive, which symbolizes diligenceo Major | | | | series win. |
| industries include farming, mining, natural gas, oil, and | | | | How have the Jazz fared since their last trip to the |
| steel production | | | | NBA Finals? While they have made seven playoff |
| The Utah Jazz's premiere season in the NBA included | | | | appearances and won three division crowns, the |
| some sour notes. They lost their first game to the | | | | farthest they have advanced was to the Western |
| Portland Trailblazers, and ended the season with 24-58 | | | | Conference Finals (2007). |
| record. Although the Jazz's first season was | | | | Throughout their history, the Jazz have retired the |
| disappointing, they were beginning to create a solid | | | | jersey numbers of seven players: |
| foundation on which to build the franchise. | | | | Adrian Dantley - #4 (Forward): 1979-1984 |
| Less than two decades after entering the NBA, the | | | | Mark Eaton - #53 (Center): 1982-1993 |
| Jazz's team was playing sweet music. In particular, the | | | | Darrell Griffith - #35 (Guard): 1980-1991 |
| duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone created one of | | | | Jeff Hornacek - #14 (Guard): 1993-2000 |
| the best one-two punches in the league. In 1996-1997, | | | | Karl Malone - #32 (Forward): 1985-2003 |
| the Jazz earned a franchise-best 64-18 during the | | | | Pete Maravich - #7 (Guard): 1974-1980 |
| regular season. | | | | John Stockton - #12 (Guard) 1984-2003 |
| The Jazz would glide through the playoffs. They sank | | | | It is inevitable that some of these players will also enter |
| the Los Angeles Clippers (3-0), drowned the Los | | | | the basketball Hall of Fame. |
| Angeles Lakers (4-1), and eliminated the Houston | | | | While the Utah Jazz has earned two trips to the NBA |
| Rockets in a war (4-2). In the NBA Finals, the Jazz | | | | Finals, it has not completed its song. Use Utah Jazz |
| faced Michael Jordan and the mighty Chicago Bulls. | | | | merchandise to cheer on the team to the sweet |
| Though the Jazz played the Bulls closely, the Bulls | | | | sound of an NBA Championship! |