Utah Jazz play-by-play Craig Bolerjack discusses Ace Bailey’s summer league and remembers Frank L…

Utah Jazz play-by-play Craig Bolerjack discusses Ace Bailey’s summer league and remembers Frank L…

This next guest, somebody that I’d love to share a burger with. He’s absolutely one of my favorites. It is the voice of the Utah Jazz, Craig Bowlerjack. Bowler, how you doing, my friend? Hands them well, man. Hey, I feel like I’m on the Food Network right now. You know, no one no one no one describes food better than you. Uh the I would say that there’s a lot of people that that describe food better than me, Bowler. I I mean I I do take pride in in my love for good food, but I think uh when it comes to good food, I think you can put the word to it, too. Well, I don’t know. I don’t know, man. You just have that ability to make it sound even better or just kind of, you know what it is? It kicks your taste buds up. It makes you go out and say, “Let’s go eat.” That’s what it does. Oh, man. Can you can you make a way your way down here and let’s just split them. How about you you buy your Muya burger and and then I’ll buy mine. Lloyd, don’t mention anything about the buy one get one freeze. So Boulder, you buy yours and you are the worst BOGO friend ever. Oh, that’s funny. Oh dear. I’ll buy mine and say, “Oh, yeah, that’s that’s on me over there. That guy over there.” Yeah, I know you heard that story, Bowler. He did that with Taming Golf. I I know you heard that. Oh, that’s Oh, that’s a classic. Yeah. Yeah. All on me, man. All on me. Well, you know, if if I’ve got the hookup, then I should get the hookup. That’s all I’m saying. It’s my gift certificate. If you’re in the truck and you’re listening to the show and you hear the buy one get one free for Hans and Scotty, bring your buddy in and be like, “Hey Chad, just buy your burger. I got mine.” And once he orders, then you order. And and the rest is history. Um, Bowler, we just got done with a fun summer league. Uh, this was a fun, this was as good a summer league as I’ve seen in a long time because our interest in eyeballs were sitting on the number five overall pick. Talk a little bit about Ace Bailey and your thoughts in the two games that he played. Well, I tell you, the first one I thought he was probably, like any 18-year-old would be, is a little bit brighteyed and and nervous. You know, you’re the number five pick, expectations are high. I thought in the second game he settled down and and wowed the crowd with athleticism. I mean 6’8, got a seven foot wingspan, seemed to be um understanding the offense uh more and ran the floor well. Uh played some D. You know, it’d be great. Two-way player in this league is a must if you want to take it to the next level. hands as you know. But I thought Senza played well so well that the Jazz actually said go uh just go back to the gym and and say we’ll go on down Yeah. And we’ll go down to Vegas. Um but I thought there were some good moments. Cody Williams um actually I felt like he felt felt like he belonged and that was one of the big issues last last year hands in his rookie season was is there that oh my moment or is there a moment where he goes hey I’m in the NBA now and maybe he’s finally realized that he is and a little strength goes a long way you know still got some some he’s got work to do but I think he’s he’s bulked up a little bit and Isaiah Kawyer bulldog uh you know, uh, running the offense, still has to kind of pull the throttle back, but, you know, he’ll he’ll get a chance to play even more, including tonight. I guess I I guess I just got word that Ace on the injury report is got a sore hip flexor, so he’s not going to go tonight against Charlotte in in the uh, Vegas debut. Uh, but, uh, I think there’s still an upside on Ace Bailey, athletic, and could be a a franchise game changer if all things work out. So, I put together a bunch of numbers just off the three games that we’ve seen, OKC, the Phillies, and the Grizzlies in in the Jazz summer league, which I thought it was great. I thought, how how was it just calling up in the Huntsman Center and and the competition? Was that a pretty good summer league? Yeah. No, I love Huntsman Center. I got kind of a few games under my belt when I started uh in the early early days doing Big Monday with ESPN and and got a chance to do some running utes. And I love that. I love that building. It’s got a little uh a little bit of the pit uh in Albuquerque feel to it. Um just because you kind of come down and you know you’re surrounding the floor and it was it was fun. I you know the Jazz played well. The crowds were about 9,000 plus per per night and even the early games hands honestly at 5:00 there were still a nice crowd in the building to kind of give it a feel. So it was fun. you know, you you crash course trying to get to know players uh and and some of their tendencies, but it’s like, you know, uh calling the NCAA tournament, you know, we had two games a day, but four games, you know, is is a real uh it was a rush, but two games a day is still a big challenge, especially with a lot of new players you’ve never seen, except for the Jazz, of course. And and it was fun to see that that core that got a lot of minutes last year almost I I got the feeling they all felt like hey man here we are we’re growing this together and you know that’s that was my gut honestly walking out of there being 3 and 0. I thought that this club had uh played together knew some tendencies and we’re starting to gain a lot of confidence which only is going to help the Jazz you know in the next year or two. Hey, really quickly, I know we’ve got Vegas summer league going. Is is Sensa and Phil Powski are they’re they’re are they going to be involved in the Vegas summer league? Uh Flip is I saw on the roster, but Bryce uh has been left off that roster. I think that in his third year is kind of common place. I think they wanted to give him a feel for what he did in in Salt Lake and obviously set a new Salt Lake City summer league scoring record with 37. I think they felt like, you know what, don’t chance it. Uh we know who you are and just continue to work uh alongside Keonte. So, but Flip, I think, needs to work and is happy to do it. Well, Bryce was incredible. You mentioned the 37point game, but in two games, he puts up 56 points. In two games, he goes 11 of 17 from three. Not from the field, he goes 11 of 17 from the from from three. and then he goes 16 of 27 from the field. So 56 points, 11 rebounds, a couple of assists. You could tell he moved well and cared a lot defensively. So I feel like since Bob I feel like he he took huge strides, but hey, look, you you can make a lot of money if you can hit on that perimeter bowler. Oh, the three I mean that’s what the league is and it’s the three level scoring. I think he can still drive. He can hit a mid-range. Uh he’s good at free throw line as Thoroughl says at the nail on on a fourlevel score but uh that the three ball as we know man you can get yourself back into a game in a hurry with a couple of threes and force pressure on defenses and you know Bryce did it in college at Ohio State. He had a slump and uh just just I’m trying to remember it was just right after the all-star game and you know you think oh boy how do you dig yourself out but I remember talking to Hornosak and Kyle Corver the three-point specialists all had the same mentality and Bryce has adopted that he knows there’s going to be ups and downs and sideways then you get on a heater right and then all of a sudden the shot for some odd reason you got a good look but it won’t drop but he he was on a summer league heater I mean he he looked confident. He took shots with defenders hands just smashed into his face and he seemed calm and cool. He’s got a really cool uh thing about him. I mean, he he doesn’t get too, you know, and again, this echoes or a second quarter. It can’t get too high, can’t get low, can’t get can’t get too low. That was Mike Connley’s kind of uh uh his statement, the way that he approaches the game. And I think Bryce does. He’s a cool, calm, you know, collected kid growing and I think he really knows that uh he can play in this league. Now the the question, can he even up his game better defensively? And I saw I saw some moments where he was trying to bust some tail on both ends of the floor. And if the Jazz are going to be successful hands, look at the last two champions, Boston and Oklahoma City. How do they do it? Well, they got shooters. Yeah. But they also dedicated to play both ends on especially on the defensive side. The other thing I was watching really close, you talked about Isaiah Collier and I was watching Collier close and his assists are astounding. Really, I I I I think it’s underappreciated that, you know, he breaks rookie records and I was actually doing a call your keep track throughout the Jazz season last year where I was just watching assist numbers and they were rolling in and then I started comparing them and then I started to really press that, you know, we hadn’t seen assist numbers like this from a rookie. Even going back to John Stockton, we hadn’t seen assist numbers like this from rookie. And so Collier was fantastic. But I want to make this point, Boulder, because it was something that caught my eye during summer league. I think Walter Clayton’s got a really great vision of court play. And when you take the three combined games, Collier played in all three and Walter played in all three. They both had 16 assists through three games. Walter Clayton ended up with 16 assists. He had six assists against the Grizzlies. He had um six assists against the Phillies and he had four assists against OKC. Isaiah Collier had six against OKC. He had five against the Phillies and he had five against the Grizzlies. And when you watched Walter Clayton play, you could see that he’s got a real good feel and a good understanding of the court. He also went seven of 19 from three. Had 31 points in his three games there in the Huntsman Center. But I I I think you’ve got something, you know, I think this is going to be a nice battle and and I think that Clayton and Collier are going to really push each other. But give me your thoughts on the second pick for the Utah Jazz and Walter Clayton. Well, first he’s he’s got savvy in the sense of being uh he he’s not 18, right? He he he played college basketball. Oh, yeah. You know, and hands I think that’s the biggest thing is that Yeah. He he he’s like, you know, my partner in crime, um Big T, who played all four years and won a national championship. There’s some eerie similarities except uh Big T 611 and and W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W Walter Clayton Junior’s like 63 6’2, but you know, there’s a pedigree there, right? I mean, he’s been there. He’s been into tough situations. He’s been tested. you know, he he hit big shots and played big defensive minutes uh to win a national championship for Florida. So, that that translates, I think, to the locker room and the rest of the team hands. I really do. And competition is good. The Jazz obviously may moving on with from uh uh the young bull Colin Ston. They see something there that they’ve got combo guards that that can do a lot of things. and and I I I I think that Austin A and the hierarchy of the Jazz just feel like, you know, you make the draft picks, you you know, and they were excited. They they felt like they hit home runs on both Ace and and Walter. So, you know, we’ll find out in time, but I think what I saw, my first instinct was, wow, uh he’s not intimidated. Uh he seems to have a real cool calm head up uh survey the floor basketball IQ. Uh a little undersized but you know what to be a special player in this league. Look I I think reading of the floor and then of course connecting with his teammates are is just going to elevate his game even higher. I think he’s going to have that Stockton sense of where guys cut, when to make the pass. And Isaiah has a little bit of that as he’s continued to grow, you know, out of USC. He he he’s a fast-paced guy, a little more different pace. Maybe that’s what the Jazz can be able to manufacture hands is that Isaiah pushes and they want to get into the 2.5 second mentality like getting across mid court and getting into their offense. But I could see Clayton Jr. a little bit more of a I can start and go and I’m going to be able to read the floor and they they both have different paces. Uh and maybe that will bode well to really cause defenses a lot of issues whether they go whoever they go whomever they go with at at the starting point guard position. But there’s some options there. I and I like it. I think it’s exciting. Well, Bowler, I don’t like to get controversial with you, but I I do need you to dispel a rumor that’s really been circling. Did you already purchase a Ford Raptor for your new grandson? [Laughter] Have you already spoiled your grandson with a Ford Raptor? because the rumors and I’m not going to mention that Lloyd started this rumor, but the rumors are swirling that this grandson is already spoiled by one Craig Bowlerjack. Oh my goodness. I appreciate you saying that. I got a new grandson who, uh, it’s my it’s our first. So, uh, it’s exciting. Um, Max Maxwell James Bowlerjack. And that’s a good strong name. Yeah, I I you know, that’s I didn’t pick it. Uh, you know, Nick and Anna, uh, got to tip my hat. They really kept us in the dark until the, uh, the final moments and, and, uh, it’s fun. It’s fun. No, I don’t have a Raptor, but I’ve spoiled him with other things and tennis shoes and, you know, ball gloves and, you know, books and all that stuff. So, a lawn mower in no time, right, B? Oh, yeah. Oh. Oh. Well, I tell you what, next next summer at this time, he’s I know where he’s he’s going to be sitting on the lap and we’re going to take some laps. That’s for sure. Absolutely. Has shar little early little early for the chainsaw, though. I think everyone would agree with that. Oh, yeah. Way early for the chainsaw. Way way early, bowler. Oh, man. Has has Sharon put him down yet? What’s that? Has Sharon put him down yet, or is she just holding him nonstop? Oh, no. No. I tell you, it’s incredible. There’s something I mean, everyone said it it would happen. Anybody listening who has grandkids, they know. And the beauty is you say, “Hey, got to go. Love you.” And then they have to take care of the the real work as we all did before. So, well, it’s great. It’s awesome. Great moment in life. You are going to be an amazing grandpa. Is that what you’re going to You’re going to go by grandpa, granddad. I don’t know, man. You know, just call me big B. I don’t know. Grandpa B, whatever. I don’t know what I don’t know what it’ll ever be, but uh I I’ll let him decide, you know, and we’ll see if any others come come about. I got to get these other two boys on the stick, you know, just a little uh you know, dating’s rough out there. This isn’t a dating, you know, show, but I think people know that it’s rough out there. Hey, before I run, can I just give my love to the to the uh Leaden family? Please do. You know, I’d say Frank was uh a dear friend. um and mentor. Uh I got here in ‘ 85. Uh I was just a kid and I got to be honest, um you never know how people are going to treat you and you got a general manager and a head coach of the Utah Jazz who really kind of just uh pulled me aside and gave me some great advice. And one of the first interviews I did was with Frank and Carl Malone on draft night uh of 1985. Um, I loved the guy and truly anyone who I think met Frank as a better person for it, uh, he lived a wonderful life and had a just so many good things for people and, um, reached out quietly and helped financially and just also just to be a friend, you know, that’s just Frank. And, uh, it was a sad day, but also he’s at rest. And you know what? He joins a pretty good group of former Jazz, you know, personnel and Larry and Jerry and Mark Eaton, uh, Hot Rod. Um, I mean, you know, that that was the early days of the Jazz. And really without Frank, I’m not sure we’d be here today. But thanks to Larry and the Millers and Ryan. Here we are. And, uh, tomorrow uh, we’ll celebrate his life. And I’m I’m sad, but also grateful that I got to know the man. I’m right there with you, Bowler. Loved him dearly. Loved his wife, Barbara. Um she’s always so good to us. She’s so good to our community. That the Leaden family, you know, you go to Scotty and everybody in between. The the Leaden family is just a staple here. And and I know I know how much you loved him and I know how much he loved you. And um Well, that whole jazz Oh, man. That whole jazz group is just legendary. And I I I hope they’re plotting and planning some great NBA game in the sky. Bowler. Yeah, I I know they are, you know. Yeah, Frank. Uh foundation pieces, you know, and that’s what it takes to build. Look at the Celtics. Look at the Lakers. U you know, I mean, to really be a great organization 51 years, I mean, you have to have support and you have to have the beginning, right? And um that’s when you go back and peel back the pages of history and you go back and think of Frank. The famous line is, “Hey, what time’s the game, Frank?” And he goes, “What time can you be here?” You know, I I I always break out in Frank Leaden, you know, impersonations because his voice was so iconic. But that to me was the funniest one. You know, in the early days, what time you want to what time he appear? We’ll we’ll tip the ball up just for you. And you know, in a way he was a he humored Jazz fans and uh you know the time I think H you’ve seen the video of of him when they played the Lakers in 88. Uh that was iconic. Oh yeah. And Pat Riley he pulls out the comb you know to to to comb his hair back like Pat Riley and it was just you know just classic Frank. Um but you know he kept it light but he was a tough guy too and he was a better basketball coach uh and also you know played at Niagara himself. Um and he just had a way. He just had a way and uh you know just wanted to shout out to the Millers uh for making that man available and the Ladens and Ryan and Ashley and the Jazz organization. It’s uh uh it’s it’s a sad day but also a day to to to rejoice. It absolutely is. You go give that Mighty Max a big hug and a kiss and uh you enjoy being a granddad and uh and we will be talking to you soon, Bowler. Thanks for the memories. All right, pal. Thanks, pal. See you soon. There you go. Craig Bowlerjack voiced the Utah Jazz.

• Utah Jazz play-by-play Craig Bolerjack