Derrick Favors is officially back with the Utah Jazz.
The organization announced Wednesday that the veteran forward/center who spent the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans has signed with the Jazz. It’s a three-year deal worth nearly $30 million, the Deseret News reported last week, according to league sources.
“We jumped at the chance to bring him back. His toughness, physicality and selflessness are key reasons he’s had such success in this league and we’re excited about what he brings to our team.” — Dennis Lindsey, on Derrick Favors
“Since he joined the Jazz originally during the 2010-11 season, Derrick Favors was an important part of the franchise and community,” Jazz executive vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey said in a statement. “We jumped at the chance to bring him back. His toughness, physicality and selflessness are key reasons he’s had such success in this league and we’re excited about what he brings to our team.”
Favors spent more than eight years with the Jazz prior to joining the Pelicans last season. Utah acquired the 29-year-old via trade during his rookie season and he played for Utah from 2011-19, when he averaged 12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 52.6% from the field. He also helped the Jazz reach the postseason four times (in 2012, then again from 2017-19).
Favors, who’s started 413 games for the Jazz during his career, ranks high in several career categories for Utah, including ranking fourth in all-time rebounds (4,250), offensive rebounds (1,448) and field-goal percentage (.526), as well as fifth in defensive rebounds (2,802), seventh in blocks (772) and field goals (2,821) and 10th in games played (576).