Kids pose with Jazz Bear during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Junior Jazz players gathered with the Utah Jazz and other community leaders Monday to check out a newly refurbished basketball court inside Salt Lake County’s Northwest Recreation Center in partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Upgrades to the court include a new playing surface, refreshed paint that reflects the Jazz branding, and new mural artwork. It is also the first of eight youth basketball courts that will be renovated with support from Delta.
After a ribbon-cutting, dozens of Junior Jazz participants enjoyed a short skills clinic. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and members of the Salt Lake City Council joined Jazz Bear at the event.
The Junior Jazz program is the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, operating since 1983. Across 42 seasons, over 2 million youth have participated in Junior Jazz, including more than 500,000 youth and over 50,000 volunteer coaches from Salt Lake County.
The Northwest Recreation Center has been a long-standing partner of the Junior Jazz program, serving youth in the community for over 35 years.
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Deseret News photojournalist Kristin Murphy was there to share photos from the event.
Liam Fraser, 5, dribbles during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Ofaira Tafua, 10, dribbles during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Liam Fraser, 5, looks at Jazz Bear during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Chris Barney, Utah Jazz revenue and commercial strategy president, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Arlo Gracey, 8, shoots during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Taulvish McCray, Jazz Youth head coach of camps, clinics and combines, and Tim LaComb, Jazz Youth manager of camps, clinics and combines, coach a basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Nate Martinez, Jazz Youth vice president of ticket sales and youth strategy, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
Malachi Gonzales, 9, dribbles during a Junior Jazz basketball clinic on a refurbished basketball court, funded by Delta Airlines in partnership with the Utah Jazz, at the Northwest Recreation Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
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