Big Woo should be nervous. His NBA experience amounts to a few games in the summer league and eight exhibition contests. Friday night at the Delta Center, rookie Luther Wright - Big Woo to his teammates - is scheduled to start at center in the Jazz's season opener against Dallas.
"Well, I should say I'm nervous but I'm not," said Wright. "I've played in the Rocky Mountain Revue. And the games in the preseason taught me so much, I don't even feel butterflies."The Jazz kick off their 82-game season against the Dallas Mavericks. Although Felton Spencer is Utah's starting center, he is expected to be out until next Monday's game against Seattle, due to a separated shoulder. In his place, coach Jerry Sloan has installed the Seton Hall rookie.
"Three weeks ago I wouldn't have even considered starting him," said Sloan.
Wright's rise to the starting lineup was a combination of luck, good decision-making and hard work. Drafted No. 18 overall by the Jazz in June, Wright signed a contract early and attended the rookie-free agent camp and the Revue, to the delight of the coaches. He also worked out in September to lose weight.
Though tests on his heart kept Wright out of fall training camp, he returned for the exhibition season after receiving a clean bill of health.
Since rejoining the team, Wright has made notable improvements, not the least being the loss of 43 pounds - from 325 to 282. Ironically, two-year veteran Isaac Austin was cut from the team this week, in large part to his inability to lose weight.
Wright has learned plays and improved dramatically in footwork and rebounding. Nevertheless, he is far from a finished product. "He has a full 150,000 percent to go, (because) he has such skills," said Sloan. He added, "He's lost over 40 pounds and that's a start. He's gotten a little better each game. We've seen some very positive things, but not for long enough. But that's how you grow."
Starting assignment aside, both Sloan and Wright admit that the 7-foot-2 center wouldn't be starting under normal circumstances. Mark Eaton is on the injured list, Spencer hurt his shoulder, Austin was cut and the Jazz don't intend to play Tom Chambers for long periods as a center.
"Frankly, we're trying to buy some time," Sloan said. "We can play Chambers but we're not going to play him 48 minutes a game."
"I'm starting," said Wright, "but I kinda miss playing behind Felton . . . There's nobody to bang with in practice."
Fortunately for Wright, the Jazz are playing two of the worst teams in the league this week. Dallas and Minnesota (Utah's Saturday opponent) had the worst records in the NBA last year, winning only 30 games between them. But after starting against Phoenix Monday in exhibition play, Wright says he is confident.
"That was definitely like a confidence builder," he said. "I felt real good after that. I felt like nobody could stop me."
If Wright feels invincible, not everyone agrees. The Jazz are getting little respect in the preseason publications. After winning only 47 games last year and losing in the first round of the playoffs, the Jazz are on a downhill slide, many publications contend.
"I expect a lot out of the Jazz," said Sloan. "I never read last year's publications and I'm not going to read this year's to find out where we're supposed to be. You just play as hard as you can and see where you are."
Forward Tyrone Corbin said he likes having fewer expectations. "I kind of like being in that position. They don't respect us, so it's up to us to go out and make them respect us; make them notice who we are."
Guard Jeff Malone added, "The pressure isn't as strong on us as last season. We can sneak up on people. So we'll just go play hard. Not being picked to win anything doesn't bother me."
JAZZ NOTES: With Mark Eaton injured, Jazz players voted John Stockton and Karl Malone co-captains.
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(Chart)
1993 Jazz roster Player
Player Ht. Wt. Yrs.
Karl Malone 6-9 256 8
John Stockton 6-1 175 9
John Crotty 6-1 185 1
Bryon Russell 6-7 225 R
Tyrone Corbin 6-6 222 8
Jay Humphries 6-3 185 9
Jeff Malone 6-4 205 10
David Benoit 6-8 220 2
Tom Chambers 6-10 230 12
Felton Spencer 7-0 265 3
Luther Wright 7-2 270 R
Walter Bond 6-5 200 1
Mark Eaton 7-4 286 11*
* Injured list