This article was first published as the Jazz Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday.

In the Utah Jazz’s recent win over the Brooklyn Nets, rookie Isaiah Collier made what is probably best described as a rookie mistake. He committed an eight-second violation, waving off Collin Sexton calling for the ball in the process.

Video of the violation and the immediate aftermath made the rounds on social media that night and in the days that followed. What stood out to fans was how mad the two seemed and how long they jawed at one another on their way to a timeout huddle — and after.

But soon after cameras stopped following the two players, they dapped one another up and moved on, acknowledging that a mistake was made and that they still had a chance to win the game, which they did on a Collier layup at the end of overtime.

Related
Jazz beat Nets in overtime with Isaiah Collier game-winner

“I was trying to just get the ball, especially down the stretch,” Sexton said. “But we just didn’t get it over in time, and it was just bad communication on both of our parts.”

Collier said he thinks the moment was good for both him and Sexton, that being able to be mad and learn from a mistake and say their piece without offending each other was a good test of their friendship.

Part of the reason that the two Jazz guards were able to move past the moment so quickly is that they’ve known each other for years.

Both from Atlanta, they were aware of one another long before they would become NBA teammates. Collier said he has always looked up to Sexton.

“I used to watch Collin all the time growing up,” Collier said. “So, I mean, it’s good that we’re both competitive and want to win the game. So I was cool with him getting on me, vice versa.”

Sexton remembers watching Collier play AAU ball when Collier was just in middle school and realizing that he would be the next big thing coming out of the Atlanta area.

For his part, Collier remembers the first time he saw Sexton play as a junior at Pebblebrook High School.

“I was in fifth grade. ... It was him against Trevon Duval, I remember like it was yesterday,” Collier said. “Hometown guy and I think Bull was one of the best players in the country. I think that game took it to the next level too. It was a real hype game, sold out crowd, standing crowd only. And he had the mentality back then — just kill.”

View Comments

Over the years, the two have worked out in the same gyms, known the same trainers and paid close attention to each other’s path to the NBA.

It’s that history and mutual respect that allows them to be able to fight like brothers in a tough moment and then move on to the next play like nothing ever happened.

“That’s what any good team needs,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said. “If there aren’t moments of tension in a game or in practice, in any relationship, it’s like, then we don’t care enough. That comes from the fact that both of those guys really deeply care, and that moment was screwed up, and they both said what they said. And to their credit, they did quickly move past it and went back to making the choice that the team is the most important thing. ... Maybe in that moment, we were fortunate that they have known each other longer than just this year, but with everybody on the team, that’s why we’re constantly trying to cultivate those relationships.”

New with the Jazz

Related
Utah Jazz rookies — what's working and what needs work

Quote of the week

“That just means they’re not trying to score every time they touch the ball.” Jazz head coach Will Hardy when asked what it means when a player says they’re letting the game come to them.

From the archives

Related
Taking a closer look at the Jazz’s 2025 draft assets
Lauri Markkanen’s feet might be the key to his shooting success

Extra points

  • The importance of losing games against other tanking teams (Deseret News)
  • The Jazz and Utah Hockey Club are the worst teams at home in their leagues (Deseret News)
  • The Utah Jazz are having a bad season. But is it bad enough? (Deseret News)

Around the league

Up next

  • Jan. 17 | 6 p.m. MST | Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans | KJZZ
  • Jan. 20 | 6 p.m. MST | Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans | KJZZ
  • Jan. 22 | 6 p.m. MST | Utah Jazz @ Oklahoma City Thunder | KJZZ
  • Jan. 25 | 6 p.m. MST | Utah Jazz @ Memphis Grizzlies | KJZZ
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.