Following the recent trades of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, it seems like a good time to revisit some of the greatest Jazz players of all time, and where Donovan and Rudy fit in the mix. Although it may be tempting to do otherwise, only statistics and accomplishments achieved on the Jazz – including New Orleans – will be considered in these rankings. So, without further ado, here are my rankings for the greatest players in Jazz history.
No.10 – Darrell Griffith 1980-91
Stats: 16.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 46.3 FG%, 33.2 3PT%
Jazz ranks: 4th in games, 4th in points, 5th in steals, 7th in 3PT field goals
Winning effect: 8 playoff berths, 2 division titles
- 1980-81 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1980-81 NBA All-Rookie Team
- 2x NBA 3-PT FG leader
- 1983-84 NBA 3PT% leader
- No. 35 retired
Despite what his nickname may say, “Dr. Dunkenstein” was more than just a flashy finisher. Leading the NBA in three-pointers made in two consecutive seasons, Griffith was a prolific scorer that helped to usher in the Stockton/Malone era of Jazz basketball.
No. 9 – Deron Williams 2005-11
Stats: 17.3 PPG, 9.1 APG, 3.2 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 46.6 FG%, 35.8 3PT%
Jazz ranks: 2nd in APG, 4th in assists, 9th in 3PT field goals
Winning effect: 4 playoff berths, 2 division titles, 2007 conference finals
- 2x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA Second Team
- 2005-06 NBA All-Rookie First Team
Often in the mix for the best point guard in the league during his later years with the Jazz, Williams led the Jazz to four straight playoff appearances, all but one of which were ended at the hands of Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
No. 8 – Andrei Kirilenko 2001-11
Stats: 12.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.4 SPG, 47 FG%, 31.2 3PT%
Jazz ranks: 2nd in blocks, 4th in steals, 6th in points, 7th in games
Winning effect: 6 playoff berths, 2 division titles, 2007 conference finals
- 2004 All-Star
- 2005-06 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 2001-02 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 2004-05 NBA blocks per game leader
- 2005-06 NBA total blocks leader
Widely considered the most versatile defender in the history of the Jazz, AK-47 was a lockdown on the perimeter and in the paint, earning an All-Star nod for his defensive stardom during the 2003-2004 season.
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No. 7 – Mark Eaton 1982-94
Stats: 6 PPG, 7.9 PPG, 1 APG, 3.5 BPG, 45.8 FG%
Jazz ranks: 1st in BPG, 1st in blocks, 3rd in rebounds, 3rd in games
Winning effect: 11 playoff berths, 3 division titles, 2 conference finals
- 1989 All-Star
- 2x NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 4x NBA blocks leader
- NBA all-time record – career blocks per game (3.5)
- NBA single-season records – total blocks (456), blocks per game (5.56)
- 4th all-time in blocks (3,064)
- No. 53 retired
Mark Eaton was a top defender during his time in the league, leading the NBA in blocks four out of five seasons and winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Although he wasn’t a great rebounder, Eaton will go down in the record books as one of the greatest shot blockers of all time.
No. 6 – Donovan Mitchell 2017-22
Stats: 23.9 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 44.1 FG%, 36.1 3PT%
Jazz ranks: 2nd in 3PT field goals, 5th in PPG, 8th in points
Winning effect: 5 playoff berths, 2 division titles
- 3x All-Star
- 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner
Despite only playing in Utah for five seasons, Mitchell made quite the impact. Leading the Jazz to the league’s best record in 2020-21 and recording a pair of 50-point playoff games cemented his status on this list.
No. 5 – Pete Maravich 1974-80
Stats: 25.2 PPG, 5.6 APG, 4.3 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 43.4 FG%, 82.9 FT%
Jazz ranks: 3rd in PPG, 5th in APG, 7th in points, 8th in assists
- 3x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA First Team
- 1977-78 All-NBA Second Team
- 1976-77 NBA scoring champion
- Jazz single-game scoring record – 68 points
- NBA Anniversary Teams – 50th, 75th
- No. 7 retired
- Basketball Hall of Fame – Inducted 1987
“Pistol Pete” was known for his quick scoring and flashy passing, something he brought with him when he was traded from Atlanta to what was then the New Orleans Jazz. Maravich was the Jazz’s first bona fide superstar, bringing the newborn franchise into the limelight before the move to Salt Lake City.
No. 4 – Adrian Dantley 1979-86
Stats: 29.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 56.2 FG%, 81.8 FT%
Jazz ranks: 1st in PPG, 3rd in points, 8th in minutes played
Winning effect: 3 playoff berths, 1983-84 Midwest Division title
- 6x All-Star
- 2x All-NBA Second Team
- 2x NBA scoring champion
- 1983-84 NBA Comeback Player of the Year
- No. 4 retired
- Basketball Hall of Fame – Inducted 2008
One of the top scorers in the game during his prime, Dantley helped the Jazz reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Eventually, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his efforts.
No. 3 – Rudy Gobert 2013-22
Stats: 12.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 2.2 BPG, 65.3 FG%
Jazz ranks: 2nd in rebounds, 3rd in blocks, 10th in points, 10th in games
Winning effect: 6 playoff berths, 2 division titles
- 3x All-Star
- 3x NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 2016-17 All-NBA Second Team
- 3x All-NBA Third Team
- 6x NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2016-17 NBA blocks leader
- 2021-22 NBA rebounding leader
While he may not have the offensive ability of some of the other players on this list, Rudy Gobert has the accolades to prove he is the best defender in the Jazz’s history. A combination of longevity and overall impact puts Gobert in the third spot.
No. 2 – John Stockton 1984-03
Stats: 13.1 PPG, 10.5 APG, 2.7 RPG, 2.2 SPG, 51.5 FG%, 38.4 3PT%
Jazz ranks: 1st in assists, 1st in APG, 1st in games, 2nd in points, 3rd in 3PT field goals
Winning effect: 19 playoff berths, 5 division titles, 2 Western Conference titles
- 10x All-Star
- 1993 NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 2x All-NBA First Team
- 6x All-NBA Second Team
- 3x All-NBA Third Team
- 5x NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 9x NBA assists leader
- 2x NBA steals leader
- NBA all-time records – assists (15,806), steals (3,265)
- NBA single-season records – assists (1,164), APG (14.5)
- NBA Anniversary Teams – 50th, 75th
- No. 12 retired
- Basketball Hall of Fame – Inducted 2009
Although not as flashy as Magic Johnson, John Stockton is still an all-time great. Boasting all-time assists and steals records that are not likely to ever be broken, Stockton stakes his claim as the top point guard in NBA history. He also never missed the playoffs and played his entire career in a Jazz uniform.
No. 1 – Karl Malone 1985-03
Stats: 25.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 51.7 FG%
Jazz ranks: 1st in points, 1st in minutes, 1st in rebounds, 2nd in assists, 2nd in games
Winning effect: 18 playoff berths, 5 division titles, 2 Western Conference titles
- 2x NBA MVP
- 14x All-Star
- 2x NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 1997-98 IBM Award
- 11x All-NBA First Team
- 2x All-NBA Second Team
- 2000-01 All-NBA Third Team
- 3x NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 1987-88 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1985-86 NBA All-Rookie Team
- NBA all-time records – free throws made (9,787), free throw attempts (13,188)
- 3rd all-time in points (36,928)
- NBA Anniversary Teams – 50th, 75th
- No. 32 retired
- Basketball Hall of Fame – Inducted 2010
Despite not winning a title in his career, Karl Malone is widely considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time. Along with John Stockton, “The Mailman” put Utah in the spotlight during a decade where basketball was at its toughest. Except for one awkward year in LA, Malone spent his entire career in Salt Lake City, leading the franchise to both of its NBA Finals appearances.
For those wondering why Malone is above Stockton on this list, the singular thing that puts him above Stockton is his two MVP awards. Malone won an MVP at 36 years old in 1998-99, the oldest player to ever win the award.
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All stats via Basketball Reference. Current through the end of the 2021-22 NBA season.
