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The 2022-23 NBA schedule was released Wednesday, and while it’s hard to know how to analyze the schedule until we know exactly what the Utah Jazz roster will look like, we can still anticipate a few of the marquee nights of the season.
So here are four games at Vivint Arena you won’t want to miss:
Opening night
It’s going to be Will Hardy’s debut as an NBA head coach, it’s going to be the first official look at the roster the Jazz are going to have this season, and it’s going to be against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, who are hoping to have a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. ready to go on opening night.
No matter what happens throughout the rest of the summer, we’re going to learn a lot on opening night, Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Jazz vs. Knicks
The Jazz don’t have any games scheduled for ESPN or ABC, and their lone TNT game is against the New York Knicks on Nov. 15. Clearly the scheduling gurus at TNT are betting on a trade that will send Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks, and if that does end up happening, you won’t want to miss Mitchell’s return to Vivint Arena.
But even if Mitchell ends up staying on the Jazz roster, he’ll be going up against the team that was rumored to be targeting him, which now features Jalen Brunson, who torched Mitchell in the playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks.
The return of Rudy Gobert
No one is going to want to miss the return of the Stifle Tower.
The Jazz will first play against Rudy Gobert and the Timberwolves on Oct. 21 in Minnesota. But Gobert will return to Vivint for the first time wearing a different jersey on Friday, Dec. 9. There’s no doubt that there will be a lot of love shared when the three-time defensive player of the year who spent the first nine years of his NBA career with the Jazz returns to where it all began.
The return of Royce O’Neale
Let’s not forget that the Jazz traded another one of their starters earlier this summer and he’ll be back with his new team, the Brooklyn Nets, on Friday, Jan. 20.
Royce O’Neale grew from an undrafted project player who started his career overseas and was fighting for the final spot on the Jazz roster, into a knock-down 3-point shooter and one of the most dependable perimeter defenders in the league. Watching him play for another team is going to be a must-see event.
New with the Jazz
This week on ‘Unsalvageable’
Check out “Unsalvageable” hosted by Deseret News Utah Jazz beat reporter Sarah Todd and lifelong Jazz fan Greg Foster (no, not that Greg Foster).
The crew is back from a one-week hiatus to talk about the NBA schedule release, what the schedule says about expectations for the Utah Jazz, and the latest on the Donovan Mitchell front.
The podcast has moved to a new feed so remember to follow or subscribe by searching for “Unsalvageable” through your podcast provider.
New episodes come out every week. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else you stream podcasts.
From the archives
This week in Jazz history
On Aug. 23, 2020, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Denver’s Jamal Murray made NBA history in the first game in NBA postseason history in which opposing players scored 50 points each. Mitchell finished with 51 points on 15-for-27 shooting (and 17-for-18 on free throws) in a 129-127 Jazz win in Game 4. Murray finished with 50 points (18-31 FG, 9-15 3-point FG) and 11 rebounds. While the Jazz took a 3-1 series lead with the win, the Nuggets ended up rallying to win the series in Game 7.
How to pass the time in the offseason
Now that the Jazz season has come to an end, it means that I have some time to catch up on the things that I love but don’t have enough time for during the NBA season. Here I’ll suggest my latest way to pass the offseason time and also take your suggestions.
This offseason has been dragging on for what seems like ages, especially for Jazz fans. Believe me, I know what it’s like to be holding your phone all day, scrolling social media and waiting for an update. While it’s my job to do that and to be plugged in constantly, most of you have the choice to unplug and I strongly suggest you do so. I would if I could.
Even if it’s for a day, a half of a day, or just a few hours, disconnect from your phone and just let yourself be free from social media and scrolling and constant searches and notifications. You can always come back to it.
Self care comes in so many different forms and sometimes self care can include indulging in all of the distractions that the internet and social media can offer. But it’s important to strike a balance. So let’s all try to be a little more balanced.
Extra points
- A third pro team in Utah? A new Utah Jazz investor could mean big things (Deseret News)
- Why would the Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell and start a rebuild? (Deseret News)
- Jazz center Udoka Azubuike gets starstruck at Vivint Arena (Salt Lake Tribune)
Around the league
From the person in charge: How the 2022-23 NBA schedule was made.
LeBron James inks two-year deal to stay with Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA projections for 2022-23: Who will win the league awards this season?