Jazz rookies should savor this long offseason

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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, bottom, battles for position during game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 24, 2023. Jazz coach Will Hardy hopes his rookies enjoy the long offseason because it may be the last long offseason they have. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

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At the end of every NBA season, every coach is asked about what he wants his players to do with their offseason. Whether the coach is asked about the team in general or about a specific player, every coach talks about the importance of taking some time away from the game and away from training.

Usually coaches and players plan on taking a couple of weeks off immediately to rest and rejuvenate before getting back to the job and to preparing their bodies and minds for the next season.

When Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy was asked about the offseason plans he and the coaching staff had for rookies Walker Kessler and Ochai Agbaji, he mentioned the need for rest, but then added some pretty interesting commentary.

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“They’re both tired, and rightfully so. The NBA season is a lot, but my message to them was that the hope is in the future we’re preparing right now to go play our best basketball of the year. So, there’s really no room to be tired,” Hardy said. “They’re gonna take some time off and rest and reflect on some of the conversations we had at the end of the year and what they think they can bring to the table next year.

“But, I think for both of them, their bodies and fitness are going to be a huge key. Now they know what an NBA season looks like and how long it is and what they need to do to prepare.”

The Jazz don’t plan to have very many more losing seasons, if any. Kessler and Agbaji’s rookie offseason began in the second week of April this year, but Hardy wanted them to hear loud and clear that they are going to need to have more in the tank and be ready to play postseason basketball in the near future.

The message behind the message, if I may — enjoy this long…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jazz-rookies-savor-long-offseason-170000159.html?src=rss

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2023-05-06 17:00:00

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