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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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The New Orleans Jazz played from 1975-79 in the cavernous Louisiana Superdome. (Photo by Rafal Konieczny via Wikimedia Commons/This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.)
The New Orleans Jazz played from 1975-79 in the cavernous Louisiana Superdome. (Photo by Rafal Konieczny via Wikimedia Commons/This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.) /

Rich Kelley. 20. player. 118. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 7th overall pick from Stanford, 1975 NBA Draft; Trade, Denver Nuggets, Feb. 7, 1983.. C. 1975-79, 1983-85

Rich Kelley had a monster senior year at Stanford, averaging 20 points and more than 11 rebounds per game before being taken seventh overall by the New Orleans Jazz in the 1975 NBA Draft.

He became a starter in his third year and put up a double-double the following year, finishing second in the NBA in rebounding in 1978-79.

John Gianelli
John Gianelli /

and Jim Boylan.

In February 1983, Kelley returned to the Jazz—by this time in Utah—when he was acquired from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Danny Schayes and cash.

Kelley left to sign with the Sacramento Kings as a veteran free agent in September 1985, with the Jazz receiving cash as compensation.

In parts of seven seasons in New Orleans and Utah, Kelley averaged 8.1 points, eight rebounds, 2.5 assists and a block in 22.9 minutes per game, shooting .494/0-for-2/.791.

He was traded in February 1980 to the Phoenix Suns and in June 1982 was dealt to the Nuggets.

Kelley retired after the 1985-86 season.

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