Jeff Hornacek has left the door open just a crack for a possible return to the Utah Jazz next season.
The veteran guard appeared in his final regular-season game with Utah Wednesday night, playing 24 minutes and scoring 18 points in a 95-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings at the Delta Center.At least, one assumes it's his final game, since he's been telling us all season that he'll retire after this campaign.
But Hornacek said after the game there's one way he'd consider a return.
"The KJ situation would be the only way I'd consider it," he said. "If somebody got hurt at the end of the season, I'd consider it."
What Hornacek was referring to was the return of veteran point guard Kevin Johnson, who had sat out all of last season and most of this season, to the Phoenix Suns after a season-ending injury to Jason Kidd.
Jazz management appeared to be on the same page as Hornacek, which might cause one to wonder if perhaps they'd already discussed such a possibility.
"Maybe we can pull a KJ, pull him into emergency service," said Kevin O'Connor, Jazz vice president of basketball operations.
Asked if he planned to make a pitch to Hornacek to continue playing, O'Connor said, "We'll beg him."
He continued, "He's expressed not wanting to to play a full season. He's talked about wanting to be with his family, and of course there's the knee. We have to respect that, but we'll sit down at the appropriate time (and discuss it). You hate to see someone with that class and character leave your program."
Jazz fans also appear reluctant to let Hornacek go, as evidenced by the standing ovation they gave him during a halftime ceremony. The ceremony began with a video on the big screen of Hornacek highlights, including many of the inventive shots that have become his trademark, as well as his picture-perfect jump shot, all to the tune of Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot." As the video played, Hornacek's wife, Stacy, and three children watched from the Jazz bench.
When the Jazz returned to the floor from the locker room, Hornacek and his family were ushered to center court for a short presentation, sponsored by America First Credit Union. The emcee announced that rather than receive a gift, Hornacek had asked that a donation be made to Primary Children's Medical Center.
"It was nice," Hornacek said of the ceremony. "I guess I get to go home and watch the video and see what it was."
Hornacek closed the regular-season portion of his Jazz career in style, tying teammate Karl Malone for game-high scoring honors. He said the game's historical significance did nothing to motivate him.
"I didn't go into the game with any extra fire because of that," he said. "I don't think that way. I just play the game."
As for the fact he's retiring, Hornacek said it's no big deal because it was inevitable.
"I wasn't going to play basketball until I'm 75 years old," the 36-year-old said. "I guess I have to quit sometime."
You can reach Rich Evans by e-mail at rich@desnews.com