What We Learned From Jaren Jackson Jr’s Utah Jazz Debut
Cyro Asseo breaks down the film from Jaren Jackson Jr.’s debut with the Utah Jazz in a 120–117 loss to the Orlando Magic and explains why it was a clear net-positive performance despite the result.
Jackson finished with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, hit 40% from three, and posted a team-best +6 plus-minus in his 25 minutes. Utah won his minutes, struggled when he sat, and immediately showed how impactful he can be on both ends.
This video dives into:
Jackson’s scoring efficiency and shot profile
His defensive activity (3 steals, strong off-ball impact)
Early chemistry with Lauri Markkanen
Why turnovers—not fit—cost Utah the game
What stood out from the Markkanen–Jackson Jr. frontcourt pairing
How Utah’s rotation looked when JJJ went to the bench
Asseo also puts the performance in team context, breaking down lineup impact, ball security issues, and why this debut was an encouraging signal for Utah moving forward.
Drop your thoughts in the comments: how dangerous can the Markkanen–Jaren Jackson Jr. duo become once the chemistry settles?
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Thanks for watching and stay tuned for more!
I own none of the footage in the video, it is intended for the purposes of critique and education.
17 Comments
Nice vid.
Will Hardy is a great coach. He will find lineups that work best . This years draft is very important. The jazz will win 45 to 48 games next season.
Cody plays D. He will be a bench piece with Collier & Filipowski.
I was here 🌲🐺
Still deliberate loosing should be banned! I know what they are doing but has it worked well so far besides picking up Ace Bailey. I would say no… Fine the management for millions to make things change. This should not be ok for any team ever.
Wait why would you want keyonte to be your 6th man😂😂 hes an all star level player
IMO I think the Jazz will play the core players for the first half of the game at most. and any little issue that they can sit any o fthem they will. So that we can really try to keep our pick this year, while getting some in-game chemistry with the starters nextyear and giving the young guys some essential 3/4 Qt min to help them grow and learn, I think this is the perfect way to finish this year.
Jazz seems to have a great plan: The projected starting five is JJJ, Kessler, Lauri, Ace, Keyonta. But, this starting five can accommodate any of the 4 big prospects (Boozer, DP, AJ and Caleb). And if teams come aggressively for Kessler as a restricted, and the Jazz does not feel like spending 30M for a center, then they can sign and trade him for a couple nice pieces. Let's say the team ends up JJJ, Laurie, AJ, Ace, George OR JJJ, Laurie, Ace, DP, George. Etc.
Magic was getting destroyed so they had to pull all the all-stars in the 4th for tanks sake. That lottery pick can't go to OKC in this draft. Jazz can't really afford to win rn.
Cody Williams is a piece. No doubt!
I think the D will be fine if you are smart with Kesslers and Jackson's minutes. Jackson as a backup center with Cody who can play great d will be more than fine against second units
My hope is that Kessler—we’re assuming Jazz prioritize getting long term—adapts well to what they were trying at the beginning of the season before the discovered need of season ending surgery, where he was given the ball at the top or elbow in joker fashion to be a distributer. I like the line up with key, ace, Markksman, jjj and Kessler if the top three look like they are all off ball threat!where jjj can spread the floor or pressure the defense in some other way either by his good outside shooting or sealing the interior. So much mismatch potential going on because it’s so hard to stop Lauri from moving with smaller players. The other team is simply going to be too small somewhere. Mean while if Kessler can prove to be an effective passing hub, because key can’t be the only distributor in the lineup, that would be where that ultra big lineup will become feared, since the only thing on paper that you can point out, besides some minor defensive concerns (is having Lauri at 3 bad for defense), is that there needs to be more facilitators.
If you don’t think Cody Williams can be a part of the future you haven’t watched the Jazz lately;)
They weren't trying to win the game.. hence the benching of their stars in the 4th quarter.. been doing this the entire east coast road trip. I expectthem to do the same the rest of the year.
Counselor will help a lot on the defense
Cody Williams will definitely be a part of his team. He’s one of their best defenders right now and he’s only like 20 years old dude.
Hey how have you been