The Utah Jazz have been one of the toughest teams to watch in the NBA over the past few seasons.
The biggest issue for Utah has been the lack of engagement from fans—and the reason is no mystery. The team’s young players have underperformed, injuries have plagued the starters, and former All-Star Lauri Markkanen experienced his worst statistical season since joining Utah in 2022.
Now, though, fans who watched the preseason finally have something to get excited about.
A Peek at Bailey’s Talent
When discussing the renewed excitement among Jazz fans, nothing tops the hype surrounding Ace Bailey. Bailey has been a hot topic since being drafted fifth overall in June, but he showed that he’s NBA-ready and a star in the making with his preseason performance. While his 16 points per game in the preseason may not jump off the page, his efficiency does.
Across three games, Bailey shot 58.8% from the field and 41.7% from three. Defensively, he recorded 5 steals and 1 block. It’s rare for a rookie to look this comfortable against pros, but Bailey’s ability to create open looks, shoot at a high percentage, and lock down defensively is impressive, if not unprecedented.
“Dynamic player…” said Kevin Durant following his matchup against Bailey during preseason. “I love that he got drafted to Utah, they got a good development program over there… I’m expecting a big year from him and a big career.”
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Young Player Hints at a Higher Ceiling
Another player generating buzz among fans is Brice Sensabaugh. Sensabaugh was one of the few bright spots in the 2024-25 season, averaging 10.9 points on 42.2% shooting from three. He showed a huge leap in consistency from his rookie season the year prior, where he averaged 7.5 points on 29.6% from deep.
Many fans were initially skeptical of Sensabaugh, and some expected to see his name included in a trade package. However, after a spark-filled second year—and an extremely impressive preseason—the former Ohio State Buckeye has primed himself for a breakout campaign.
What to Watch Out For
Ace Bailey and Brice Sensabaugh are Utah’s biggest stories heading into the regular season, but they’re not alone. With Taylor Hendricks returning from injury and head coach Will Hardy still withholding the Jazz’s starting five for their season opener against the Clippers, there are plenty of unanswered questions as the season gets underway.
Despite those concerns, Utah appears to have made it through the hardest part of the rebuild.
It’s clear the Jazz are still a long way from winning a championship—or even competing for one—but skiing down the slopes of Utah’s purple mountains might just be fun again.
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