SALT LAKE CITY — The timing of legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan’s death in May has thus far prevented the organization from having any sort of formal public memorial at Vivint Arena, but the team will honor him during the NBA’s restart in Orlando and next season with a jersey patch that was unveiled Tuesday morning.
The patch, which will be worn in the top left corner of player jerseys as well as their warmups, says “1223,” which represents the number of victories Sloan tallied in 23 years as head coach of the Jazz. The patch will appear on player gear for the first time Thursday when Utah scrimmages the Phoenix Suns.
That number also hangs in the rafters at Vivint Arena.
Next season, Jazz jerseys will display a commemorative black strip with the same “1223” design, the team said, and “additional details on how the franchise will honor Sloan next season will be announced later.”
Fans can purchase the jersey patch at the team store (either in person or online), which can be added to a jersey. The price of the patch will be, fittingly, $12.23, with proceeds benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease (Sloan passed away due to complications from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia at the age of 78).
The Jazz organization announced Tuesday that it has made a financial contribution in Sloan’s memory to the foundation, which is named for the famed actor who has Parkinson’s disease.
“Coach Jerry Sloan will forever be in the hearts of the Utah Jazz organization and fans everywhere, and we feel it is only fitting to honor him in this way,” Greg Miller, member of the NBA Board of Governors and director of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, said in a statement. “His contributions to our Jazz family and communities are a defining part of our franchise history and we look forward to seeing 1,223 on the jerseys of our players in Orlando as a nod to his legacy.”