SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz's regular season is just about over, but Beehive State basketball fans won't have to wait as long as usual to see professional hoops at EnergySolutions Arena as they usually do.
After a six-year absence, the Rocky Mountain Revue will return this summer.
The Jazz will host summer league teams from the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs for a four-day exhibition from July 6-9 at EnergySolutions Arena.
Utah hasn't held the Revue since 2008 when it was an annual event at Salt Lake Community College.
"Jazz fans are among the most loyal and passionate supporters you will find anywhere in the world, and I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to be able to bring them the Utah Jazz Summer League beginning this July,” said Jazz president Randy Rigby said in a press release.
Like last year, the Jazz will also participate in the Las Vegas Summer League, which will take place right after the six-game Revue wraps up.
Utah brass has wanted to bring back the popular summer basketball league for years, and the NBA granted the franchise permission to revive the Revue. The Jazz first started hosting a summer league in 1984, with events taking place at East High, Westminster, the Delta Center and SLCC's Lifetime Activities Center.
The Jazz participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League from 2009-13 after pulling the plug on their own league. Last year was the first time Utah played in Las Vegas.
“On behalf of the Jazz and the Miller family," Rigby added, "I would also like to express our gratitude to Adam Silver and the NBA for their support in helping us return summer league basketball to Utah."
The Jazz team will include rookies Dante Exum and Rodney Hood, among other players from the current squad, along with players they draft in June.
“Summer league is a very valuable resource for player development, talent evaluation and organizational growth," Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said. "The opportunity to once again host our own league is one that we have been interested in for a number of years.”
The Revue will feature two games apiece by the four participants. No games will be held on Wednesday, July 8.
BEST SHOT?: Trevor Booker made one of the craziest shots in the NBA at Oklahoma City when he did a volleyball-like, two-handed backward tip to beat the shot clock.
As great and fun as that moment was, however, he deferred to Gordon Hayward's buzzer-beating, game-winner against Cleveland as the Jazz's play of the year.
But he did add a caveat to his generous vote.
"Mine wasn’t really a play. It was just a shot. So if I had to say 'shot of the year' I’d have to say myself," Booker said. "Gordon’s was actually drawn up, so I’d have to say Gordon's shot against Cleveland (for play of the year)."
FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT: Jazz coach Quin Snyder expressed his appreciation to fans who've offered compliments and greetings to him on rare occasions when he's been out on the town.
Before Utah played its final home game, Snyder said he's also grateful for how the fans affect games.
"I had a sense of it from being here as a team on the road," Snyder said, referring to his previous jobs in the NBA. "It’s been great."
Snyder admires that fans have even been there through thick and thin, adding that the crowd has lifted the team at times and vice-versa.
"Sometimes fans are mad at you if you’re not playing well, and that's fair," he said. "I’m mad when we’re not playing well. You get the sense that there's a level of encouragement and expectation."
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