He ‘guard’ of the Utah Jazz, Kris Dunn, has been able to turn his two ten-day contracts into a magnificent opportunity to play a fundamental role under the orders of Will Hardy.
Dunn, the fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, was never able to live up to the high expectations placed on him and his career has followed a downward trend that has led him to beg new opportunities in the NBA since the Development League. A door that could have opened before him in Salt Lake City.
The departure of Mike Conley to Minnesota, together with the physical problems of Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton, and the absence of a pure point guard on the roster, have allowed him to enjoy many minutes as a substitute point guard in recent weeks. In fact, he’s scored in double figures in his first seven games with the Jazz, something only one other franchise backup, Jae Crowder, has accomplished in the past 30 years.
Currently, the former player, among others, of Timberwolves and Bulls, averages numbers of 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 23.3 minutes. In addition, what was one of his problems, the shot, has not made an appearance so far: he registers an effectiveness of 54.4% in field goals and 41.2% in triples.
In this way, Dunn, who presented himself as a simple temporary patch to counteract absences due to injury and fill in the gaps in the roster, aspires to win a contract until at least the end of the season with the Jazz. At 28 years old, the player believes he has reached the necessary maturity to receive a new opportunity after polishing his game in the G-League. With the Capital City-Go-Go he averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.6 steals before signing with Utah.
“The Development League has really helped my game this year,” Dunn shared. “I was inconsistent in the past. Now I feel comfortable when he plays. I know what my strengths are and where my points are on the pitch. I’m just trying to hit good shots. The game is slowing down for me.”
(Cover photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
