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SALT LAKE CITY — Ochai Agbaji was struggling.
The Jazz's second-year forward has been trying his game this summer; he's been asked to initiate some offense and create for others and for himself. The results have been inconsistent, and there were some low moments in the first half Thursday night.
That's when Agbaji's soon-to-be teammate stepped in.
John Collins, who the Jazz traded for ahead of free agency, sat next to Utah's bench during the team's games Wednesday and Thursday. And when he saw Agbaji getting a little frustrated after a slow start, he pulled him aside.
"He was just like 'slow down,'" Agbaji said. "He was just telling me to slow down, and he saw that I was kind of getting frustrated and kind of really antsy — just trying to find my shot, trying to find my rhythm — but he just told me to slow down and relax, so it was good."
It apparently worked.
Agbaji came alive in the second half and finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Jazz to their first win of summer league.
Collins has been around the team this week as he awaits for the trade to become official. He attended the summer league games along with Jazz coach Will Hardy, executives Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik, and rookie Taylor Hendricks, who has missed all of the Salt Lake games with a strained hamstring. He's also been hanging out at the team facility.
Agbaji said it was special to see the early support from the versatile forward.
"I mean, for him to not have any workouts or anything going on and still come out to summer league and see some guys that he'll be playing with and all that, it means a lot," Agbaji said. "It means a lot for us. I know it means a lot for the rookies, too, that he'll take his own time to come and watch us."
Two-way player Johnny Juzang, who had 15 points Thursday, echoed Agbaji's thoughts.
"He's actually been great," Juzang said of Collins. "He was at the last couple of games. He was in the facility today and he's talking to us, encouraging us. I mean, he seems really excited. So it's awesome to have him as a part of the team, and I know he's had some great energy, so it's been fun."
Collins, 25, has averaged 15.8 points and 8.0 rebounds during his carer, and Agbaji is eager to see how his game will translate to Utah's system.
"He's super athletic, and his game, beyond his athleticism, has grown, too," he said. "I'm excited to have him here in Utah."
Especially if his presence and advice can lead to more turnarounds like what happened to Agbaji Thursday.
