This is a big deal to me. I love to see the smiles on the kids' faces, and by me giving back to the community, hopefully one day they can give back to the community like I did. – Derrick Favors
SALT LAKE CITY — Derrick Favors made the assist as he lifted a little girl closer to the basket so she could make a shot during a game of "speed."
"All right, guys. I got you," the Utah Jazz forward said Monday as he rebounded a rogue ball and made a basket for a boy during the game.
Twenty-five kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake and their chaperones attended a back-to-school party hosted by Favors at the Zions Bank Basketball Center.
Not only did the kids get some quality time with Favors on the court, but they also received new backpacks filled with school supplies, donated by Wal-Mart, and were able to eat pizza from Papa John's with the Jazz player.
"We got erasers, pencils, markers — whatever this is," said Jordan Baylor-Banks, 9, picking up a flash drive after emptying the purple-themed supplies out of her backpack before lunch.
Though Favors never attended Boys & Girls Clubs as a child, he said, he wanted to help the children out as part of his goal to make a difference in the community and to build his personal legacy during the offseason.
"I know that some of the kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs don't have some of the supplies they need to go back to school, which is my main reason for doing this," he said. "This is a big deal to me. I love to see the smiles on the kids' faces, and by me giving back to the community, hopefully one day they can give back to the community like I did."
Favors also hosted a back-to-school shopping spree for 25 youths from his hometown of Atlanta.
The Jazz player claims to be a big kid himself, which is why he enjoys hanging out with the kids.
The youths attending the back-to-school party definitely treated Favors as a fellow child, swarming around him, asking about his girlfriend and his mom, and showing the player how tall their parents are compared with the Jazz player before joining him for games on the court.
"I got a full arm workout," remarked Favors, swinging his arms back and forth, tired from lifting several children closer to the basket.
For the Jazz player, lifting up small kids isn't part of his normal workout regiment. However, he said he has worked on his offensive game during the offseason and is excited to see several of his teammates return to practice.
According to Favors, the team is focusing on their court chemistry, as part of their goal to make the playoffs this year, while supporting Danté Exum's recovery from his recent knee injury.
Email: chansen@deseretnews.com, Twitter: curlybrunette13