Greatest unsung hero in every NBA team’s history

Utah Jazz: Jeff Hornacek

Jeff Hornacek was an All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, but by the time he got to the Utah Jazz, he took a backseat to John Stockton and Karl Malone. That’s not to say that he wasn’t productive, but with two hall of famers on the roster, his role needed to change in order to fit in.

It worked out well for him and the Jazz. Hornacek posted better numbers playing alongside all-time greats than he did as the main option in Phoenix. His WS/48, true shooting percentage and PER in Utah were higher than at any other point during his career. He was reliable from behind the arc, almost never missed any free throws and was a very skilled passer in his own right.

Even in this tertiary role, Hornacek played a big part in the Jazz reaching consecutive NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, compiling 19.7 WS during that span. Yes, he wasn’t as effective in the postseason. That being said, he still maintained his stellar shooting from long distance, making 39.8 percent of his shots from 3-point land during those two-year playoff runs.

The Jazz from that era were a lot like the San Antonio Spurs in the sense that it was probably more fun getting your wisdom teeth pulled out than it was to watch them play. But they were efficient, and Hornacek was a perfect extension of that.