Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
No one will ever surpass "The Whopper." One of the greatest nicknames of all time.
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Rudy Gobert "Greatest Jazz Center of All Time" Countdown Thread
- Thread starter framer
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framer
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#37 Steve Hayes
Points 92
Rebounds 78
Blocks 17
Steals 5
Assists 7
Let's try that again: When I mentioned Jeff Cook being the pride of Idaho State University, I neglected Steve Hayes who is their most legendary player. All he did in college was keep UCLA out of their 11th consecutive final 4 by defeating them in the Sweet 16 in 1977, scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. This 7 footer had a 13 year pro career internationally, in the NBA, and in the CBA. He completed his NBA stint on the Utah Jazz, where centers apparently go to die, in 85-86. He has since worked in the athletic department at Idaho State, had his own IT firm, and is secretary of the NBA retired players association (Big T is vice chairman.) He was inducted into the state of Idaho's athletic hall of fame. This was the only pathetic pic I could find of him playing basketball:
Points 92
Rebounds 78
Blocks 17
Steals 5
Assists 7
Let's try that again: When I mentioned Jeff Cook being the pride of Idaho State University, I neglected Steve Hayes who is their most legendary player. All he did in college was keep UCLA out of their 11th consecutive final 4 by defeating them in the Sweet 16 in 1977, scoring 27 points and 12 rebounds. This 7 footer had a 13 year pro career internationally, in the NBA, and in the CBA. He completed his NBA stint on the Utah Jazz, where centers apparently go to die, in 85-86. He has since worked in the athletic department at Idaho State, had his own IT firm, and is secretary of the NBA retired players association (Big T is vice chairman.) He was inducted into the state of Idaho's athletic hall of fame. This was the only pathetic pic I could find of him playing basketball:
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Wow, I don't remember Steve Hayes playing for the Jazz. In fact, I don't remember ever hearing his name. Sorry, Mr. Hayes, sounds like you had a good career.
framer
Well-Known Member
See, you must not be from Idaho, or do any business with the NBA Retired Players Association. . .
I do remember the next 3 guys on the list. Gobert has actually already passed 2 of them. I'll catch up soon.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
I'm just surprised because I'm an old guy and remember almost all the guys on your list thus far - except for Hayes.
framer
Well-Known Member
#36 Mikki Moore
Points 128
Rebounds 82
Blocks 13
Steals 7
Assists 19
Mikki could, quite possibly, be the most overrated (by Jazz Fanz) center to ever play on the Utah Jazz. I remember people trying to work out trades for him YEAAARS after his stint in Utah, and would bring up his name every time he was "available." It says a lot about his demeanor and popularity. In reality he was the textbook definition of Journeyman, playing for 14 different teams since he entered the league in 1997. He played with the Jazz in 2004 after being called up from the D-league. 2004 was probably one of the most fun teams we ever had which contributed to Moore's popularity. If you still want him, he is currently playing for the Reno Big Horns.
Points 128
Rebounds 82
Blocks 13
Steals 7
Assists 19
Mikki could, quite possibly, be the most overrated (by Jazz Fanz) center to ever play on the Utah Jazz. I remember people trying to work out trades for him YEAAARS after his stint in Utah, and would bring up his name every time he was "available." It says a lot about his demeanor and popularity. In reality he was the textbook definition of Journeyman, playing for 14 different teams since he entered the league in 1997. He played with the Jazz in 2004 after being called up from the D-league. 2004 was probably one of the most fun teams we ever had which contributed to Moore's popularity. If you still want him, he is currently playing for the Reno Big Horns.
fishonjazz
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LogGrad98
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Great thread framer, love it. Really good info and format. I think Gobert has a real chance at being the best center we ever had, not really because he is all that great, he is ok but his hands are tennis rackets right now and he can't seem to get a good handle on his own length, but really because we have never really had any great centers. I am curious to see both when he enters the top 10 and who the top 10 really are. Is O-tag #1 or #2?
framer
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I haven't really totaled the stats that far out, but if I had to guess, I would assume Memo is probably No. 1.
Hipporippo
Well-Known Member
Eaton has got to be number 1. Memo's career with the jazz was too short. I guess it depends on how you weigh defensive vs offensive stats. Ostertag should be number 3.
framer
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I didn't realize that Eaton's career was so long. Memo played here 7 years which is a pretty lengthy stay, but Eaton played here for 11. Yeah, Eaton is in first place. . .
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
Also have to consider the era. Eaton played when you could knock players around a bit. Now it's kind of a pansy league (no offense to pansies). Wasn't there a call last night on a screen that was "too good?" The screen was set, player didn't move, but the defender ran into the screen and the foul was called. Back when Stockton played, he had a ton of those. Opponents were constantly hitting the floor after running into him.
Jazz funneled players into the middle on purpose: to get pounded by Mountain Man. Guards would think twice about trying to penetrate with Mark in the paint. Can't do that now. If you so much as ruffle the jersey it's two shots.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
After last night, maybe an alternate thread should be started: Derrick Favors, "Greatest Jazz Center of All Time."
framer
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I believe that he is already top 15. I have a suspicion that he is going to be known as more of a PF as his career continues, especially as his range continues to improve. At some point he will need to be on the court with Gobert.
framer
Well-Known Member
#35 Todd Fuller
Points 168
Rebounds 129
Blocks 16
Steals 6
Assists 6
I remember this trade, I remember I had hope for this trade, I remember how bad Todd Fuller sucked. Up until that point I thought there was something magical about dudes picked in the lottery (Golden State, #11) because we had very few of those dudes show up to play for the Jazz. There was, however, a reason that we only gave up a second rounder to get him. He played for the 98-99 Jazz where soooo much was expected. Interestingly Fuller declined a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in order to play pro ball. This is one of the few cases where the guy should have stayed in school instead of going pro, even though he scraped by for 5 NBA seasons. Currently Fuller is a certified high school math teacher. He participated in the Australian National Baptist Basketball Carnival where he went off for a career high 52 against the Dimsdalle Abbey Deacons second squad. Actually he was a solid college player who for 21 and 10 in the ACC playing for NC State. We just needed something more in 98.
Points 168
Rebounds 129
Blocks 16
Steals 6
Assists 6
I remember this trade, I remember I had hope for this trade, I remember how bad Todd Fuller sucked. Up until that point I thought there was something magical about dudes picked in the lottery (Golden State, #11) because we had very few of those dudes show up to play for the Jazz. There was, however, a reason that we only gave up a second rounder to get him. He played for the 98-99 Jazz where soooo much was expected. Interestingly Fuller declined a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in order to play pro ball. This is one of the few cases where the guy should have stayed in school instead of going pro, even though he scraped by for 5 NBA seasons. Currently Fuller is a certified high school math teacher. He participated in the Australian National Baptist Basketball Carnival where he went off for a career high 52 against the Dimsdalle Abbey Deacons second squad. Actually he was a solid college player who for 21 and 10 in the ACC playing for NC State. We just needed something more in 98.
Stifle Tower
Punch Bowl Re-Filler
^^
Yep, I remember Fuller too and how much I was hoping he'd be the answer for us.
Yep, I remember Fuller too and how much I was hoping he'd be the answer for us.
Lakers_Slapper
Well-Known Member
OK, we had to redo this thread due to the limitations of only being able to have 10 pics in one post. Also, a lot of my pics are broken and are being fixed. Additionally, Gobert is actually ahead of more people and I will add them in until we are current when the season tips off for real.
The Center position for the Utah Jazz has been a collection of some of the greatest scum, villainy, and heartbreakers known to the NBA. I have 58 players (59 if you count Biedrins, which I refuse to) as suiting up for the Jazz during both the New Orleans and Utah eras and I am going to document Gobert's rise to the top as he leaves these past paragons of mediocrity in his wake!
For statistical purposes I am only going to count what these people did as a Jazzman. If they left after one season and became an All Star somewhere else, then you only get the one year counted, because if you did your best work for another team, then screw you. Also this counts for Hall of Famers who played just one game for the Jazz at the butt end of their career (I'm looking at you Walt Bellamy, may you rest in peace.)
So here are Gobert's current Stats:
Points 148
Rebounds 198
Blocks 56
Steals 12
Assists 14
This ranks him at #34 ahead of:
#35 Todd Fuller
Points 168
Rebounds 129
Blocks 16
Steals 6
Assists 6
I remember this trade, I remember I had hope for this trade, I remember how bad Todd Fuller sucked. Up until that point I thought there was something magical about dudes picked in the lottery (Golden State, #11) because we had very few of those dudes show up to play for the Jazz. There was, however, a reason that we only gave up a second rounder to get him. He played for the 98-99 Jazz where soooo much was expected. Interestingly Fuller declined a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in order to play pro ball. This is one of the few cases where the guy should have stayed in school instead of going pro, even though he scraped by for 5 NBA seasons. Currently Fuller is a certified high school math teacher. He participated in the Australian National Baptist Basketball Carnival where he went off for a career high 52 against the Dimsdalle Abbey Deacons second squad. Actually he was a solid college player who for 21 and 10 in the ACC playing for NC State. We just needed something more in 98.
I can't believe you would talk about Gobert as being one of the best centers in Jazz history. Are you secretively one of Goberts relatives of something? Have you watched any past Jazz games or are you just googeling Jazz centers of the past??