Because of how great Ace Bailey has looked this preseason, his play has improved with the addition of rookie Walter Clayton Jr. to overshadowed the Utah Jazz. Clayton is coming off an NCAA title, and Utah traded up to get him in the draft. There’s no telling what his statistical output will be in his rookie year, but Will Hardy and Walker Kessler have essentially confirmed why the Jazz picked him: the culture he creates.
Speaking to reporters on October 12, Hardy explained why he enjoys coaching someone like Clayton.
“He has a huge chip on his shoulder,” Hardy told reporters on October 12. “He’s got an edge… I love coaching guys like that who get a little salty at different times because he’s frustrated when he’s not playing as well as he wants to, or because he made a mistake on that possession. I think it’s a combination of his intelligence and his competitiveness in those moments where he says, ‘No, fuck this. I’m going to do a good job.'”
Will Hardy talked about Walt Clayton Jr.’s approach to the game, his ability to adapt quickly on the floor and his competitive nature. #TakeNote | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/TxEHISskIG
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 13, 2025
Clayton’s stock rose astronomically during his final collegiate season at Florida after making a surprising March Madness run to the title. If you have to work from the ground up, you can turn a player into a leader. It sounds like Clayton already has the makings of a leader in the Jazz locker room.
Walker Kessler revealed that Clayton brings out the best in his teammates
Kessler echoed a similar sentiment about Clayton and revealed why it’s important to have guys like him on the team.
“I think it brings out that dog in all the players,” Kessler told reporters on Oct. 14. “I think it’s contagious. When you have a guy like that on your team, you want to play hard. You want to play for that guy. You want to compete together. You look around the league and winning cultures, they have one or two guys that are like that, but in turn they are all like that.”
The Jazz will be assembling about a perennial playoff contender in the coming year. From the looks of it, they already have some of those pieces, such as Kessler as their designated rim protector and rebounder, Hardy as their guide, perhaps Bailey as their center, and Brice Sensabaugh as their three-point threat.
What can help a team reach its potential is a leader who can set the tone. The Jazz had that with people like Mike Conley Jr. He wasn’t their best player, but he was their leader, which is why Utah didn’t turn out too bad initially, even when they traded Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in 2022.
Clayton could be a similar player archetype. Utah isn’t counting on him to be their best player, but rather the guy who can motivate everyone to play as a unit. If Clayton becomes Conley 2.0 in the process, they will definitely have a title culture.
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