What happens when a small-market team drafts multiple stars?
Of course, the organization would put all its resources into winning. Each star would receive the celebrity treatment in their little slice of middle America. They’ll each get however much money they want on their contract, for any length of time.
But even if they both commit to winning a title for their flyover state, would they get even a tenth of the media attention as a Lakers’ role player wearing a snazzy pair of sneakers pregame?
The answer is no, but a lack of media coverage can help a team too. Any drama or scandal that may have occurred in the Utah Jazz locker room lasts about five minutes in a 24-hour news cycle. By contrast, LeBron James shouted “Taco Tuesday” a few too many and we’re still making jokes about it. Okay, not really, but you get the idea.
The Utah Jazz locker room problem isn’t Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert openly slamming each other or refusing to play. It’s that headlines involving the two keep breaking through from a market that should be completely quiet.
Wasn’t This Already Over?
Tensions between Mitchell and Gobert first made headlines immediately after Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, effectively being the reason for the NBA’s shutdown of the season. Matters were made worse after an awkward media moment for Gobert, but Mitchell made the situation much worse.
Reportedly not talking to Gobert for weeks after the incident, it wasn’t until sources came to The Athletic claiming the relationship was “unsalvageable,” and the subsequent trade rumors that came with it two Utah Jazz stars started to break down the wall between them.
A then 23-year-old shooting guard and 27-year-old rim protector played along in a version of “superstar couples therapy” to get back on amicable terms. However, the two never said much about their relationship with the media. Instead, both talked about how much they wanted to “win a championship,” and playing with each other would be their best chance to do so.
Still, none of this drama made significant headlines in small market Utah.
Disturbing comments from Gobert broke through in a similarly less-than-scandalous manner in mid-January 2022, prompting the duo to have to quell concerns about a brewing “beef.” Except, they never openly feuded at all. Instead, the situation was handled how any healthy organization would.
Still, the comments were bad enough that ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon said “it’s back to being passively aggressively awkward” on the Hoop Collective podcast. While saving face on the court, these new reports combined with a history of internal feuding paints a particular picture.
The Utah Jazz Locker Room is a Tinderbox About to Explode
The Jazz already has two more losses this season than they did for all of last year. Their current core of Mitchell, Gobert, Jordan Clarkson, and Mike Conley has already flamed out of the playoffs twice. And now the field of title contenders has never been more open, with at least seven other NBA franchises fancying themselves this season.
Many won’t admit it, but the Jazz should reach the top. They’ve got too much talent at the top of their roster. Factor in their veteran bench and elite coach, and it’s difficult to truly understand why the Jazz doesn’t strike fear in their opponents.
There’s a tilt to their play that seems less passionate than years past. Mitchell and Gobert are often caught just going through the motions, hoping for teammates to bail them out.
Any potential situation in Utah will make minimal media noise. NBA media would rather talk about bigger markets for the sake of ratings. Still, other teams would jump at the chance to trade for either star.
Both Gobert and Mitchell are under contract until 2026.
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1 Comment
I feel like they are fine and just have a working relationship. I watch a lot of Jazz games because Spyda Mitchell is my favorite player.