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Utah Jazz: 25 Best Players To Play For The Jazz

By Phil Watson

Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The trees in full bloom and a general view of at Vivint Smart Home Arena where the Utah Jazz will play the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The trees in full bloom and a general view of at Vivint Smart Home Arena where the Utah Jazz will play the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1982: Adrian Dantley #4 of the Utah Jazz looks to pass the ball over Frank Johnson #15 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1982 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Dantley played for the Jazz from 1979-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Adrian Dantley; Frank Johnson
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1982: Adrian Dantley #4 of the Utah Jazz looks to pass the ball over Frank Johnson #15 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1982 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Dantley played for the Jazz from 1979-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Adrian Dantley; Frank Johnson /

1979-86. Adrian Dantley. 3. player. 118. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Los Angeles Lakers, Sept. 13, 1979.. SF

When the Utah Jazz acquired Adrian Dantley from the Los Angeles Lakers in September 1979 in exchange for Spencer Haywood, it marked Dantley’s fourth team in four NBA seasons.

But he stayed awhile with the Jazz.

UTA_03_DANTLEY
UTA_03_DANTLEY /

Dantley was a six-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, leading the NBA in scoring in 1980-81 and 1983-84 and also leading the league in minutes per game in 1980-81.

He was fourth in field-goal percentage in 1979-80, fifth in free-throw shooting in 1982-83, second in minutes per game in 1979-80 and 1981-82 and fifth in 1983-84 and was second in scoring in 1985-86 as well as third in 1979-80 and 1981-82.

In August 1986, the Jazz traded Dantley with second-round picks in 1987 and 1990 to the Detroit Pistons for Kelly Tripucka and Kent Benson.

In seven seasons in Utah, Dantley averaged 29.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 38.8 minutes per game, shooting .562/.185/.818.

He was the sixth overall pick out of Notre Dame by the Buffalo Braves in the 1976 NBA Draft and was named Rookie of the Year in 1976-77.

He was traded to the Indiana Pacers in September 1977 and was swapped to the Lakers in December of the same year.

In February 1989, Dantley was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and after being waived in April 1990 sat out until joining the Milwaukee Bucks in April 1991, retiring at the end of the 1990-91 season.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, Dantley is 27th in NBA history with 23,177 points, 25th with a field-goal percentage of .540, 49th with an average of 35.8 minutes per game and 17th with an average of 24.3 points per game.

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