Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz should be feeling very festive come Christmas.
They will be playing in their first Christmas Day game in over two decades, they'll be sporting new green jerseys (against a Portland team wearing red jerseys, no less — Christmas) and they even have a gift-giving teammate.
Ekpe Udoh gifted all of the Jazz players the same book for the holiday.
“That might surprise you guys,” Thabo Sefolosha said. "There is probably some good message behind it. I’m looking forward to reading it.”
And he’s also holding out hope for another gift from a teammate.
“I’m still waiting on the Rolex from Rudy (Gobert),” Sefolosha joked.
In the end, though, he’d likely settle for a win over the Blazers on Christmas Day (8:30 p.m., ESPN).
Donovan Mitchell remembers Dwyane Wade and LeBron James putting on a show against the Los Angeles Lakers. He remembers Derrick Rose hitting a game-winner in Los Angeles. And then there was the one at Madison Square Garden Mitchell went to as a kid.
Christmas Day games have a way of sticking out.
“Christmas is a special day and the NBA Christmas Day games are for all of us, whether you’re playing or not. It’s part of the holiday,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.
For the first time in 21 years, the Jazz will be part of the Christmas Day lineup. That alone is significant. The games are reserved for the brightest stars, the best teams or the biggest markets (looking at you, New York).
“The best teams in the world are playing,” Gobert said. “It’s great for us. It’s a good opportunity for the world to see what we can do.”
It’s a recognition from the NBA that the Jazz are among the top teams in the league. And that fact hasn’t been lost on the players.
“It’s an honor to play on Christmas, everybody is watching,” Sefolosha said. “It’s a big basketball day — amongst many other things. It’s great. I think it shows the improvement of the team, the commitment of the organization to make a good culture, a good team and it’s working.”
Derrick Favors is one of the many Jazz players who’ll be playing in his first Christmas Day game. The annual contests were part of his childhood with his family gathering around and watching the games. Now, he’s gonna have to try and figure out how to balance that family time with preparing to play in one.
“Wake up, open presents with (the kids),” Favors said. “Enjoy the time with them and get ready for the game.”
That’s his plan, at least. He’s still not sure how it’ll all going to work out.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Favors said with a laugh.
It’ll be a unique challenge, but it won’t be new to every Jazz player. Kyle Korver, Jae Crowder and Sefolosha all have Christmas Day experience.
“There is a lot of excitement,” Korver said. “You don’t have to hype yourself up for it. There is going to be a ton of hype and excitement and energy. I’m excited for, first, Christmas with my kids in the morning. That’s the best.
“There are challenges to it,” Korver continued. “You try not to get caught up in the hoopla of a Christmas Day game. You try to stay true to who you are. Christmas Day games are unique there is just a lot of stuff going on.”
But the Jazz all point to one big advantage: They get to play at home.
“I’m happy that it’s a home game because my family is here from France, so that allows me to spend more time with them,” Gobert said. “It’s great for the fans here, we just have to go out there and do what we do.”
