If Kevin O'Connor were the nostalgic type, Saturday's game might have a little more added significance than most on the 82-game NBA schedule.
After all, O'Connor not too long ago had his 10th anniversary with the Utah Jazz, and the team he left behind in the City of Brotherly Love will visit EnergySolutions Arena during its annual trip to the Beehive State.
Now in his 11th season as the Jazz's general manager, O'Connor has fond memories of people he worked with in Philadelphia — from administrative assistants still there to former owner Pat Croce.
But make no mistake. His allegiances and loyalties are in Utah with his current employer.
"You move on," O'Connor admitted.
And he certainly has.
Since taking over on Aug. 26, 1999, for outgoing Scott Layden — who was headed to the New York Knicks (and since returned) — O'Connor has played an integral role with the Jazz.
Utah hasn't quite matched the success of the NBA Finals' years during his tenure, but the Jazz have remained a relevant player in the league with the teams that he's helped assemble.
That, however, is quite the feat, considering the Jazz aren't exactly perennial lottery draft pickers.
That's how Jerry Sloan sees it, at least.
The Jazz coach credits O'Connor for picking up valuable free agents such as Matt Harpring, Raja Bell, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, who have bolstered the basketball team in the years since John Stockton and Karl Malone moved on.
O'Connor is also praised by many experts and onlookers for his shrewd moves on draft day in 2005, when he improved the Jazz's picking position by three spots — just enough to snag a promising point guard named Deron Williams with the No. 3 overall selection.
"I'd hate to think where we would've been if it hadn't been for Kevin," Sloan said. "He's done a lot of things to keep this franchise credible."
O'Connor has also had to be creative.
The makeup of this year's roster is an example of that. Only six Jazz players were actually drafted by Utah (including second-rounders Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles); two got here via trades (Kyle Korver and Kyrylo Fesenko, both coming from Philly, coincidentally); and four were brought here as free agents.
He's not the boastful or self-promoting type, but O'Connor looks back at the accomplishment of the franchise remaining a perennial power and playoff team with a feeling of pride. To further the point about his non-bragging style, O'Connor gives most of the credit for making post-Stockton-and-Malone success possible to Sloan and to the organization's late owner, Larry H. Miller.
"Everybody thought once John and Karl were gone, we'd become irrelevant," O'Connor said. "I think when we built the franchise back up under Larry's direction and certainly (with) Jerry's coaching, we felt like we turned it around, I think, a little bit quicker than people (thought we would).
"That's something I would be proud of," he added, "the fact that ... with the exception of one year (the 26-56 2004-05 season) — and I think that was injuries as much as anything — we were always able to put a very competitive team on the floor."
Not having panicky bosses has helped O'Connor and the Jazz succeed.
Case in point: When the Jazz were in full-rebuild mode after Stockton retired and Malone bolted to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2003, Utah signed a pair of fairly high-profile free agent shooting guards to offer sheets. But after the respective teams of the L.A. Clippers' Corey Maggette and the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Terry matched the Jazz's offers, Utah's management didn't melt down or go on a wild shopping spree.
Instead, they signed Bell, and set themselves up for a big offseason the next summer.
"I think," O'Connor said, "that sometimes a lot of moves that you decide not to make are probably worth more than some of the moves that maybe you make."
Added O'Connor: "We knew we had ownership's backing and that Larry would have patience, and the next year we were able to get Okur and Boozer."
O'Connor is grateful that owner Gail Miller and CEO Greg Miller have carried on the successful legacy following Miller's death in February.
"All the core values are still the same, so that doesn't change," O'Connor said. "I think what we miss is Larry's, certainly his passion for the game. But Greg and Gail are both committed to put a team on the floor that's very competitive."
O'Connor's professional background is loaded with coaching experience in the college ranks. Between 1972 and '85, he was an assistant at Virginia Tech, VMI, Colorado and UCLA.
From there, he took his eye for talent to the NBA, where he had stints as a scout for four NBA teams, including the Jazz.
Before joining the Jazz, for whom he has the fancy title of executive vice president of basketball operations, O'Connor spent two seasons as the Sixers' director of player personnel.
And, though an East Coast guy by birth, the Bronx, N.Y. native was happy to jump at the opportunity to be the Jazz's GM.
"It gave me," he said, "an opportunity to move up the food chain, so to speak."
O'Connor has no more active interest of moving up that food chain anymore, though.
"None," he said when asked if he has other career aspirations. "The only thing I know how to do is do the job that's in front of you."
For now, that includes worrying about picking up a 13th player to replace the recently traded Eric Maynor and Matt Harpring — a task the Jazz will begin pursuing now that Christmas is over.
"I don't think you can do your first job or the job you're at well enough if you're looking for another job," O'Connor continued. "I'm happy and my aspirations are for us to beat Philadelphia (tonight)."
One major factor in the success and stability of the Jazz is the working relationship between O'Connor and Sloan. Not all NBA organizations have the luxury of a GM and head coach who respect each other as much as these two.
They don't always agree, but they realize they are on the same team.
"I think we're of one mindset and that's to try to figure out a way to win games and to be successful and not taking shortcuts," O'Connor said.
"It's been a relationship," he added, "where we can't always agree on everything, but we've always been honest with each other and I think that breeds trust."
Sloan says O'Connor's background on the bench helps him understand his job even better, and he's appreciative that the GM doesn't try to wear an extra hat as coach. He helps get Sloan the players, and then allows him to coach them.
"He's been great to work with," Sloan said. "You can't find somebody to work any better with because he understands the coaching business, the ups and downs of it. He definitely understands the scouting part of it."
Those who follow the Jazz — from reporters to spectators — might have noticed two other things about O'Connor.
For one thing, the sharp-dressed GM doesn't hesitate to leap out of his ESA seat about a half-dozen rows behind the Jazz bench and give the referees an earful.
"I think it makes me look like an idiot some of the time, and I appreciate when some of my friends tease me about it," O'Connor said, laughing. "But it's what I do for a living, first of all. So I'm serious about it. But I'm basically a fan. There's not a whole lot I can do except root like heck for a team."
Another noticeable habit?
Many could easily be convinced that O'Connor's two favorite words are "no comment."
But the GM, who thankfully didn't answer a question about his "no comment" tendencies with a "no comment" response, said he has a good reason for keeping many things related to the Jazz so close to the vest.
O'Connor works by the theory that "if it affects somebody adversely or if it affects the franchise adversely" his only comment will be of the "no comment" nature. He'd rather say that than lie or hurt his organization in any manner.
"Anything that I feel shouldn't be in the press or shouldn't be out for public knowledge is a 'no comment,' " he said.
Asked about the favorite part of his job — not including the "no comment" part — O'Connor didn't hesitate with his answer.
"Watching young players succeed," he said.
It does his heart well to watch the likes of undrafted rookie Wesley Matthews come in and work his way into the rotation. He also mentioned how nice it's been to observe the progression of Williams.
"Those are things that probably mean as much to me as anything," he added. "Having coached for 12 years in the college ranks, I think I understand what goes into the daily preparation by players, and watching them get better is fun."
e-mail: jody@desnews.com