The 2025-2026 NBA season started tonight for the Utah Jazz, with a home game against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers.
And what a game it was! The Jazz came out strong from the start, taking a 15-7 lead just four minutes into the game, looking completely different from last year’s group.
The finale was a 129-108 Jazz win over a good Clippers team, which could change the narrative about this Jazz team’s prospects.
Here are the best things about tonight’s game:
1. Walker Kessler
Walker Kessler looked like a dominant, two-way great tonight, something Jazz fans have dreamed of but rarely expressed publicly during his first three seasons. From the jump, there was something different about the six-foot center, and it wasn’t just his hairstyle.
Walker nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key, and the Delta Center erupted as it went through the net! Add to that a dunk, a layup and another made three-pointer, and we wondered if Mehmet Okur had come out of retirement to play again.
He finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, as well as four assists, a pair of steals and four blocked shots. Kessler had a coming out party tonight and did so against a respectable center in Ivica Zubac.
2. Keyonte George
This is what we wanted to see out of Key when he was drafted. Good decision-making, leadership, timely passing and directing the attack.
Keyonte George took full advantage of a newfound opportunity and made a strong statement as the starting point guard moving forward, with 16 points, nine assists, two steals and 50% shooting from the field (6 of 11).
Missing from all of this were specific moments where he coached the younger guys and showed strong teamwork in helping them adjust to the Clippers defense. Key may have endeared himself to Will Hardy tonight.
3. Dominance and depth
The Jazz stepped on the gas early in this game and didn’t give up. A 20-point lead in the first quarter grew to a 30-point lead, which they held for much of the second half.
And everyone on the court got in on the action – from Svi Mykhailiuk to Brice Sensabaugh, Walter Clayton Jr., even Jusuf Nurkic had a nice night off the bench with eight points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 17 minutes, giving the Jazz a proven backup veteran center for when Walker Kessler needs a breather.
Now, the worst parts of the evening? Yes, there were a few:
1. Ace Bailey has the flu
Ace Bailey’s regular season debut was a bit of a dud, unfortunately due to him coming down with the flu virus and playing a quiet quarter, with two points and three rebounds, along with two assists. He was certainly affected and looked exhausted at times when he returned to the bench.
Not getting the start was a disappointment after the preseason hype built from his first few games, but understandably the illness was a very good reason to come off the bench tonight.
2. Walker Kessler gets PAID
The Jazz made a calculated gamble this offseason by not extending Walker Kessler at an affordable price while they had the chance, justifying it on the grounds that even a solid season would keep him in the $25 million per year range next summer.
Tonight’s performance, along with his preseason performances, will make the rest of the NBA aware of Kessler’s value, and he will likely receive a substantial offer this summer that will force the Jazz to pay him more than they expected.
3. Cody Williams was missing
On a night when the Jazz dominated and everyone seemed to be in action, sophomore Cody Williams saw the court for two scoreless minutes.
While Williams may have an undisclosed injury or illness, another theory is that Williams didn’t make the grade during the preseason and ended up in Will Hardy’s doghouse.
We may not know if this is the case for a while, but let’s hope Williams can get things right and have a good season.
Well, those are the best and worst things about the Jazz season opener. 1 lost, 81 games to go! NB!
#worst #learned #Utah #Jazz #tonight